“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”
The Few
This verse names the specific thing that actually explained Peter and John’s genuine boldness, not formal education, unlearned and ignorant men by conventional measure, but they had been with Jesus, this genuine presence itself named as the actual, sufficient explanation others could directly observe.
This is worth holding as this whole first movement’s own culminating encouragement. Day one named being with him as preceding sending. This verse shows the actual, visible fruit of that pattern, years later, boldness others could not otherwise explain, traced directly back to genuine presence, not formal credentials.
This is worth applying to whoever you are currently investing in, trusting that genuine time spent with you, following you, watching you, however unimpressive by conventional measure either of you might currently feel, is itself producing something others will eventually, genuinely notice and be unable to otherwise explain.
Whatever formal qualification you or someone you disciple currently lacks, receive today this verse’s own testimony. They had been with Jesus was sufficient explanation for genuine, visible boldness. Genuine presence, sustained over time, produces this same kind of fruit, regardless of formal credentials otherwise absent.
Pour Into the Few
- Trust that genuine presence, sustained over time, produces fruit regardless of formal credentials.
- Consider what boldness or capability you have already noticed in someone you have invested time in.
- Continue investing genuine presence today, trusting its eventual, visible fruit, even without immediate proof.
Prayer
Lord, let genuine presence with you produce this same boldness in me and in those I invest in, regardless of formal credentials otherwise absent. Let this be sufficient. Amen.
Carry this today
Genuine presence with Jesus produces visible fruit others cannot otherwise explain.