Scripture: Acts 4:13-22
People are looking at you. All the time. This can be an overwhelming thought to process.
In this passage people are looking at Peter and John and the man they just healed.
When the religious leaders looked at Peter and John:
They saw their boldness.
They saw that they were ordinary men that had just done something miraculous.
They saw that they had been with Jesus.
As a result of Peter and John's miracle, these religious leaders needed to think about a way to stop them without getting everyone upset (For all the people had seen the miracle and were praising God!). The religious leaders' plan was to ask them (I'm sure very nicely :) ) to stop talking about Jesus.
I love Peter and John's response, "“Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard” (V.19-20).
The religious leaders could not say anything so they just asked them again (again, probably very nicely :) ) to stop talking about Jesus.
But as a result of this whole episode, "everyone was praising God for this miraculous sign—the healing of a man who had been lame for more than forty years" (V.21b-22).
When people look at you do they see your boldness? Do they see that you are just an ordinary person that does some amazing things? Do they see that you have been with Jesus? If they do, people will notice and might do some weird things around you. They might say some mean things, laugh at you, talk about you, or ask you to stop talking about it. But one thing they will not be able to do is deny that something amazing is happening through you. The evidence is too strong (a man who was lame for 40 years is standing next to Peter and John, and something you have done through the power of the Holy Spirit is with you as well!).
Obey God rather than men and people will take notice. A few will probably get weird with you, but so many will be praising God as a result of your faith!
