August 23, 2022
Today you can walk with confidence
Katy McCown
Today’s truth
“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were ordinary and uneducated men, they were amazed and realized that these men had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13 NIV).
Friend to Friend
A few years ago, my family and I teamed up with our local church family and went out into our community for a week-long event with bounce houses, food, music, and the Word of God. We had never tried anything like this before.
We prepared for months. We put up signs about the event and held training sessions for our workers. When the week of our community block party finally arrived, I raced around with the clipboard to make sure everything went as planned… What I didn’t do was clean my car.
As the week progressed, my car accumulated trash, crumbs, and anything else I didn’t feel like dragging home. (Let’s be honest: It wasn’t that different from what I do on a normal week.) To make matters worse, on the last night of the event, my seven-year-old son took a giant stick and threw most of the sugar into his hand The remaining colored powder formed a mountain on the floor of the back seat. Remember this was a giant pixie stick.
This was my husband’s breaking point. I couldn’t stand the mess in my car anymore. So instead of packing up and driving home, he started cleaning the car right there in the parking lot.
The next Sunday at church one of the families we met at the block party joined us. As we talked, he said, “Katy, when we were leaving the other night, I said to my husband, ‘Look at his back seat.’ They’re just like us!’”
I couldn’t believe my ears. I had secretly been so ashamed of my messy car. I felt like a failure and thought of so many women I went to church with who would surely never let this happen to their vehicles.
That mess in my car became a reason to accuse me of not being good enough. Yet, while I worried about my car wreck, God used it to connect my family with another. God took what He caught and charged me with bringing life and safety into someone else’s heart.
Sometimes the failure that holds us hostage is the same failure that God uses to set someone free.
The book of Acts tells the story of ordinary and uneducated men chosen by God: “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were ordinary and uneducated men, they were amazed and realized that these men had been with Jesus.”Acts 4:13 NIV). To the world around them, there was nothing special about Peter and Joan. However, they could not deny his courage and bravery.
From this verse we can learn three important things about Peter and John.
First, Peter and John acted bravely. They spoke and acted in a way that conveyed extraordinary confidence.
Secondly, Peter and John were not schooled and common. Some translations say “common” or “untrained”. From this observation, we can conclude that they had no special training or education.
Thirdly, Peter and John had been with Jesus. This explains why ordinary men could act with extraordinary confidence.
That’s huge, because you know what people didn’t realize? Observers failed to note two lives that met the cultural standard of excellence. They certainly didn’t take note of a clean car. No, when the council saw the courage of Peter and John, they took note that the audacity in their action was directly linked to their closeness to Jesus.
Too often we come up with reasons why we don’t measure up. We may even avoid walking in our God-given tasks because we don’t know if we can do it. When we do this, it may be because we chose the wrong measurement tool. God chose ordinary, uneducated men to change the world. I love the ending of Today’s Truth, “they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”
To walk with confidence in God’s plan for our lives, we just need to walk with Jesus. What is stopping you from walking boldly?
we pray
Dear God, thank you for choosing me. When others see me, I want them to see you. Help me to let go of any worldly standards or failures that keep me from walking with You. I want to follow you wherever you take me. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Now it’s your turn
What measuring sticks do you use to decide if you are worthy or ready to live on mission for Jesus?
The next time you feel “not good enough,” remember Acts 4:13then let God guide you to the good works he has prepared for you.
More of the girlfriends
Katy is new Bible To study, She smiles fearlessly: Proverbs 31 for Every Woman, shows you how walking with Jesus is the first step to smiling without fear.
© 2022 by Katy McCown. All rights reserved.
