July 16, 2004

Without A Bumper Sticker

They saw the boldness of Peter and John . . . . And they realized that they had been with Jesus. —Acts 4:13

Bible In One Year: Psalms 16-17; Acts 20:1-16

While driving in rush-hour traffic one day, I found myself behind a car with a bumper sticker. It had a yellow smiley face on it with these words: SMILE—JESUS LOVES YOU.

Suddenly another car squeezed in front of the“smiley”car, forcing the driver to hit the brakes. With that, he shook his fist angrily, displaying anything but a smiley face. I felt ashamed, until I remembered my own impatience as a driver. The incident reminded me that our actions and reactions, more than the display of a sticker on our car, show whether we really know the Lord Jesus.

Acts 4 tells us that Peter and John faced opposition from local rulers, elders, and scribes as they proclaimed the good news of Christ. But their reaction caused their opponents to start thinking. Even though Peter and John were not highly educated, the people marveled at their bold witness and realized that these two men had been with Jesus. There was no need for a bumper sticker on the apostles’ donkey. Their words and actions said it all.

Do you feel too untrained or timid to be a witness for God? If you’ll spend time getting to know Jesus, He will empower you to impress others with Himself. You’ll have boldness—without a bumper sticker. —Joanie Yoder

For me ’twas not the truth you taught,
To you so clear, to me so dim;
But when you came to me, you brought
A deeper sense of Him. —Clelland

Actions speak louder than bumper stickers.