“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 4:13 NIV
Education, as beneficial as it is, is no replacement for spending time with Jesus. Peter and John were ordinary fishermen. They held no important positions of leadership, and had no formal education. Yet there they stood, presenting their case before the rulers, elders and teachers of the law. Among those they stood before was Annas the high priest and all the influential men of his family. You would think they would have been intimidated, but instead they spoke with confidence and courage. Those who listened marveled at their courage and took note that these men had been with Jesus.
The time they spent with Jesus changed them. They began to understand what really mattered. They discovered their purpose and realigned their priorities. They defended their actions courageously because they were determined to share what they had received directly from Jesus. Nothing else was more important. They were not going to be swayed in another direction by anyone, not even this powerful group of religious leaders.
If you want to make an impact in this world, spend more time with Jesus. Allow Him to directly speak into your life. What He pours into you, you will in turn be able to share with the world. He will give you the confidence and the courage you need to move forward and become a person of impact for His glory. You will be influenced by your education, your church, and your social circle, but none of these can replace time on your knees, time in worship, and time in the word of God; one on one time with Jesus Himself!