The Real Test

Peter saw that a crowd had gathered, and he said: Friends, why are you surprised at what has happened? Why are you staring at us? Do you think we have some power of our own? Do you think we were able to make this man walk because we are so religious?

Acts 3:12 (CEV)

When you are in school, it seems like everything revolves around grades. When you get good grades, you get to be in sports and activities, you’re on a path towards college and great things, and teachers and parents celebrate you. When you get bad grades, everybody gets on your case. Can you do anything significant if you aren’t excelling in school?

A similar question was in people’s minds in this story from Acts. Peter and John were talking to a man who couldn’t walk since birth. The crowd knew him as a beggar at the temple. The next thing they see, he’s walking and holding on to Peter and John! The crowd was astonished. They saw nothing flashy about Peter and John. They weren’t educated or wealthy. Yet suddenly they had the power to heal. The only thing the people could pinpoint was that they said they knew Jesus. Being his followers enabled these guys to heal people.

So back to you: While you should aim to do well in school, that grade doesn’t define you. Your test scores will not hold you back from what God has planned. And a quiz certainly doesn’t measure your worth. None of it determines what kind of an impact your life will have. But Jesus does. Being a Christ-follower can make you a life-changer for others. When you allow the Lord to work through you, he can use you for great things. The question now is: will you let him?

SPIRITUAL FITNESS TRAINING

Many Christians have amazing stories about how they suddenly had the courage to speak or the wisdom they needed for a situation or the power to do something God told them to do. Ask some Christians around you if they have had any such experiences. Write about them and use them to remind and encourage yourself that God can use you, too.

INSPIRATION

“All throughout Scripture we see that God is about doing improbable things for improbable people, so his purposes are achieved, and he gets the glory.”

—Chip Ingram, American pastor and author in Ohio

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help you expand Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Swipe to read the passages today.

Isaiah 53:5

Psalm 147:3

Acts 3:6-7

1 Corinthians 1:27