Saturday August 1, 2020

Today’s Reading: Acts 2:1-8

Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit gave them ability for speech. 

Acts 2:4

Meditation: The work of the Holy Spirit fully equips us to glorify God. His miraculous arrival comes to the apostles in an upper room of Jerusalem during the Jewish festival of Pentecost. At this time, Jews from around the world have traveled to celebrate the festival in the city. The apostles are waiting together when suddenly, the Spirit comes with a great sound of rushing wind and tongues of fire. He fills the apostles, and by His power they speak about the magnificent acts of God in foreign tongues. Jews from all over the world who have gathered around them are able to understand what they are saying. The Spirit not only empowers the apostles, but also moves them. In being filled with the Holy Spirit, the apostles speak not what they want, but what the Spirit gives them utterance to say.

The Holy Spirit’s power is not given independent of His leading. We are not given God’s resources without His guidance too. Likewise, we are not led by Him to tasks for which He has not equipped us. The two blessings of being empowered by Him and being surrendered to Him are given together. Just as the apostles are able to do great works for God by the Spirit, so are we as believers equipped to serve and glorify Him by both His ability and His influence over us. Believer, does doing the work of the Lord seem daunting to you? Do your own limits cause you to question your purpose in God? Take heart! God’s Holy Spirit falls upon and fills the apostles who are waiting for His arrival. In similar fashion, He also equips us completely for the work He has in store for us. We only need to wait on Him.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your power and strength to do Your Will. Thank You also for Your revelation of it. As I seek to follow You, Lord, help me to see You and hear You more clearly. Grant me the faith to trust and wait on You completely, and to go only where You lead. In Jesus’ Name I pray, AMEN.

Thru the Bible in a year (credit: Biblestudytools.com): Acts 2:1-13; Deuteronomy 13-14; Job 10