As a son or daughter, sometimes you meet people who know or knew your parents, and they say something like, “I can see your father [or mother] in you.” Or “You sound just like your mother.” And sometimes, that is a compliment.

The greatest compliment we could ever receive is not even about us. It can be found in the Book of Acts.

“And they realized that they had been with Jesus” [Acts 4:13].

The apostles Peter and John were arrested and detained by the Sanhedrin (Jewish Council of their day) for preaching in the name of Jesus and healing a lame man. That was their crime.

The lame man, whom they healed, was born that way. His friends and family would carry him to a particular place daily, where he could sit and beg “for alms.” He could not work. The only thing he could do was rely on the compassion and charity of others for his livelihood. This was not a man taking advantage of others by “choosing” not to work when he could. This was a man physically unable to earn a living.

But because Peter and John preached in the name of Jesus Christ and gave Him all the credit for that man’s healing, the Jewish rulers of their day had them arrested. They detained them overnight, and the next day, they put them on trial. When the Jewish council questioned Peter and John, Peter boldly said, “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” [Acts 4:10].

Peter went on to say, “Nor is their salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven, given among men by which we must be saved” [Acts 4:12].

Scripture says, “Now when they [the Sanhedrin] 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” [Acts 4:13].

Christian, the greatest compliment you and I could ever receive is for someone to say of us, “He or she has been with Jesus.”

But for that to happen, we must spend time with Him. We must be filled with His Spirit, be in His Word daily, reading it, studying it, memorizing it… “Writing it on our hearts” [Proverbs 3:3-6], as we are instructed to do in God’s word. If that is ever going to be said of us, we must spend much time with Jesus.

I pray that you will spend time with Jesus today and every day. Remember, if you are a born-again follower of Jesus Christ, He is always in and with you. The Holy Spirit in us is fed and quickened within us by His Holy Word and prayer, spending time alone, talking to God, and listening to Him.

Oh, that someone might pay us the greatest compliment we could ever receive here on earth, that they might get a glimpse of Jesus in us by how we live out our lives in speech, attitude, and deed.

Let it be so, Lord; let Your light shine through us wherever we go and in whatever we do. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” [Matthew 5:16].

Lisa Hannan lives in Valdosta with her husband, attorney Miles Hannan, who has been practicing law in Valdosta for more than 30 years. She has a B.S. in psychology from Valdosta State University. You can find her at www.lisahannan.org.