Theme of the Week: The Holy Spirit
Bible Verse: Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38
Scripture Reading: Acts 2:1-47; Luke 11:5-13
I’ve gotten some pretty fantastic gifts over the course of my life. Sometimes, I’ve gotten exactly what I asked for, and those times were pretty good. But other times, I’ve gotten something completely unexpected and some of those gifts have been outstanding! My wife excels at gift-giving. The thought and care she puts into the gifts not only make the gift great, but it also shows how well she knows me.
After the disciples received the Holy Spirit, they began to preach to the crowd that had gathered at the Spirit’s coming. The people had heard the commotion caused by the Spirit’s decent and empowering of the disciples and recognized their own languages being spoken. Peter gave a stirring message about the identity and work of Jesus. Jesus was the promised Messiah they had all been waiting for. The coming of the Spirit, to which they were all now witnesses, was yet another sign that Jesus was indeed God’s chosen one.
At the end of the sermon, Peter told the crowd they could receive the same gift that those who were speaking had just received. They could receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Do you think of the Spirit as a gift? In Luke 11, Jesus refers to the Spirit as a gift too, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13).
The Spirit seems like one of those gifts that we aren’t necessarily asking for, but when we receive it, it’s exactly what we wanted and needed. The Spirit brings new life. He is our connection to Jesus and the cause behind our spiritual growth. The Spirit helps bring order to our lives by helping us transform as new creations into the image of Jesus. Let’s take some time to thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit and make sure we are taking full advantage of this wonderful gift.
Prayer: God, you are so generous. You have given us the Spirit who brings us new life, seals us for your kingdom, and grows us into the image of Jesus. Thank you for your Spirit.
Reflection: Take some time to reflect on the work of the Spirit in your life. What can you thank Him for?
Copyright © 2023 Impactus | Promise Keepers Canada. All rights reserved.
About
