Confidence & Loyalty!

For Friday, September 25, 2026:

Acts 4:13 NLT: “The members of the (religious) 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.”

Peter and John had been arrested in the Temple for preaching salvation through Jesus, and for healing a man who had been lame from birth. That man was present as Peter and John were questioned, so no one could deny the miracle. He was healed in the name of Jesus!

The Apostles didn’t try to save their own skin by lying, by denying what had happened. They showed two traits we should all exhibit: confidence and loyalty.

Having lived and traveled with Jesus, they had been eyewitnesses to thousands of healings and miracles. While spiritual healing was a big deal to the lame man, Peter and John had seen it all before. If the man was healed in the name of Jesus, there was no doubt in their minds that it would be so. Peter’s boldness (one of his character traits) fit because he trusted Jesus. As he laid hands on the man, he had already pictured the man walking. In our mind’s eye, we need to picture a miracle as if it already happened.

We speak of trusting in the Lord and believing in Jesus. What is needed is loyalty, an unflinching devotion to the King of kings. We’re not about to change our minds. No one can alter what we believe. Loyalty lasts forever!

The council knew that Peter and John had been with Jesus, so their position came as no surprise. The council was just trying to reconcile what had happened with their preconceived beliefs, and it wasn’t going well.

As God gave us the New Covenant, some things would change. Some things would be different. If we believe Jesus was sent by the Father, we can be filled with confidence as we share the Gospel with others. We can be loyal to the end!

Pastor Norton Lawellin
The Father’s House
Jesus In the City Fellowship
Truth & Freedom Church