I went to high school with two girls who had British parents. While talking with them and their parents one day I noticed something strange. The girls had an American accent while their parents had a strong British accent. I didn’t understand it back then, but since that time there have been studies on this phenomenon. It turns out that while kids learn their first words and such from their parents, they learn and adopt the accent of the people they’re around the most. All kinds of psychological factors play into it, but what it boils down to is who they are around the most.
In Acts 4, Peter and John had just healed the lame man that the gate Beautiful. They had taught about Jesus in the synagogue just after and won over many converts. The local Jewish religious authorities brought them in for questioning. They demanded to know by whose name they had healed the lame man. Peter, with all boldness, reminded them about Jesus and what they had done to Him. He then told them there is salvation in Jesus. Verse 13 says, “The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus” (NLT). The disciples no longer spoke like ordinary men. They had been in proximity to Jesus and that changed how they spoke.
Colossians 3:10 says, “Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.” Paul was reminding us that just because we were born into sin, doesn’t mean we should adopt that way of living. Instead we should put on our new nature. That means we should adopt the new way of living that reflects someone who has been around Jesus. The more time we are with Him, the more we know Him and become like Him. Your new nature isn’t put on by trying harder, but instead by your proximity to Jesus. Can people recognize you as someone who has been around Jesus? Your words and life reflect who you’re around. Put on your new nature daily and develop the accent of heaven.
Photo by Luz Mariana Gonzalez from Pexels.
Discover more from Devotions by Chris Hendrix
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 
“Your new nature isn’t put on by trying harder, but instead by your proximity to Jesus.”
Thank you, Chris. What a great reminder that growing in Christlikeness is about following in close fellowship with Him.
Confession: I spend more time daily looking at my phone than I spend talking with Him.
You write great devotional content, Chris; it’s as good as Our Daily Bread, or similar platforms.
Blessings to you and yours.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I confess I do the same. I try to block out time with Jesus each day and spend time in this Word. What an incredible compliment the disciples received here in Acts 4. People could perceive that had spent time with Jesus. Praying my life reflects Him that much too.
LikeLiked by 1 person