10.26.04

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the "stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. - Acts 4:8-14.

Have you ever wanted to be a better person? Have you ever wanted to learn new skills and obtain new abilities? Most people at one time or another in their lives have those kinds of desires. The US Army has a very successful advertising campaign and it is based on the slogan “Be All That You Can Be”. Whenever I hear that slogan, it makes me want to join up because who wouldn’t want to be all that they can be? We all do. We want to be the best that we are capable of being.

If God were to put together a recruiting theme, He might use a very similar slogan. God’s slogan might be “Be More Than You Can Be.” What a deal! Where do I sign up? Who wouldn’t want to be more than it is possible for them to be? How is that possible to be more than you can be? Let’s look at some of the evidence.

Soon after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, the disciples are preaching and witnessing in Jerusalem with great boldness and effectiveness. In the Name of Jesus, the lame man was made to walk. Peter and John did not have any silver or gold but they did have the power of God. How did this happen?

Everyone knew that Peter and John were just fishermen. They had never had the advantage of any kind of formal education. They had never been to grade school, junior high or high school much less to college or to a seminary. The thing these men had was that they had followed a teacher named Jesus for three years. We are told in Acts 4:13, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” Peter and John had been raised up to be more than they could be and the One who raised them up was Jesus.

Jesus is still recruiting followers today and He is still offering the same deal. If you will follow Him - He will raise you up to be more than you could ever be without Him. Signing up is very simple to do: just open up the door of your heart and invite Jesus to come in (Revelation 3:20).