Being with Him.  Sitting at His feet.  Listening.  Simple acts of humility.  What could be better?  Any effect?  Would people notice?  They did.  That’s what it says in the book of Acts, chapter 4.  What others observed was how expensive their cars were?   The size of their diamond rings?  How much money they had in corporate bonds?  No.  None of that.  What did they detect?

These ordinary folk became bold after being with Jesus, after His death and resurrection.  So can you and I.   We now know that death is not the final word.  Can kill the body, but not the soul.  Jesus has risen.  Alive!  He came to His disciples with His hands wide open.  The Apostle Peter, who has denied Jesus three times, now is courageous and brave.  Peter speaks up.  Noticeably different from the cowering, weak-kneed denier that he was at Jesus’ trials only weeks before.

When we believe in Jesus, welcome Him into our lives, He gives us His Holy Spirit, who begins change from within.  All this from being with Jesus.  ‘…they took note that these men had been with Jesus'(Acts 4:13).

Spend time with Him in His Word, the Bible.  Not like you have to.  Not to make ‘brownie points’.  No.  Then why?  Because you WANT to spend time with Him.

For over 25 years I’ve read the Bible through, from Genesis to Revelation, each year.  Not for sermon material or bragging rights, but to spend time with my Lord, listening to Him.  I’ve been a Christian now for over 50 years, having accepted Him into my life as a teen.  I’ve read the Bible through more than 22 times.

But that means for many years I didn’t.  Hit-or-miss readings, at best.  Here-and-there.  A few Psalms that were really short.  Avoiding tough books like Revelation, those long-winded prophets or the endless lists in Chronicles.  Then a friend challenged me to read the Bible every day, from cover to cover.  So, I started.  A few chapters every day.  By year’s end, I had read it completely.

But why stop?  Another year…and another full reading of the Bible!  Now, each day I look forward to spending time with Him.  It’s been such a blessing.  Sitting at the Lord’s feet.  Can you imagine?  May I be your friend, challenging you to read ALL the Bible in the next year?  God has so much to share with us.  ‘…ordinary men…they took note that these men had been with Jesus'(Acts 4:13).

Prayer:  How good, our God,  to be with you.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.