Intellectual accent; theological strength; and titles that come with completion of a course; is identifiable by others who are swimming in the same waters called the doctrines of men. Pharisees in Jesus’ day recognized fellow Pharisees. Sadducees understood each other, for they had the same doctrine of no resurrection. But when some men, who used to be fishermen, tax collectors, or fig tree sitters, came to Jerusalem and starting healing the sick, the religious elite stood up and took notice. They were not taught how to heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons or cleanse the leper in their theological institutions. They were taught hermenutics, exegesis, and literary analysis. This blew their rational minds, how could this be. They had the big titles, the paychecks, the temple, but they did not have the power of God.

It amazes me how the Bible can be so crystal clear in its articulation of truth and yet, we can be completely unaware of truth that sets us free. Acts 4 says, “Now as they (religious leaders) observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.” Peter and John were not trained in their seminaries, bible schools or discipleship programs, but they had been with Jesus. Being with Jesus, following Jesus, fellowshiping with Jesus, learning from Jesus, transforms you into a new creation. This change was obvious to the religious leaders. They knew these men were different, for they didn’t argue theology they manifested power; they demonstrated grace; they spoke the truth in love.

We get to decide who we are going to be. As for me, I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back!