Unschooled and Ordinary

February 24

(Acts 4:13 NIV) "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

(Acts 2:41-47 NIV)  "Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. {42} They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. {43} Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. {44} All the believers were together and had everything in common. {45} Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. {46} Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, {47} praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

The apostles were not highly educated like the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin, but they had an effective ministry. They had no letters following their names, but they had been with Jesus and they had courage. With these godly credentials, they literally changed the world. Education is not the most important factor in effective ministry. Churches that value academic degrees over gifting and calling have forgotten Acts 4:13. Courageous, unschooled, ordinary men, who had been with Jesus, planted churches that grew in number daily. When you couple a close relationship with Christ to a courageous heart, you have a potent combination for effective ministry. Have you been with Jesus? Would anyone look at your life and take note that you have been with Jesus? Are you courageous in sharing your faith? This is how “unschooled, ordinary” Christians change the world. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day