Devotion Link

Rejoice:

Read:

³⁶ “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

³⁷ When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

³⁸ 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. ³⁹ The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

⁴⁰ With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” ⁴¹ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

So to recap what has been happening: Jesus died, the disciples gathered in an upper room and began praying, now God has poured out the Spirit on them and those around feel they seem drunk because they seem to be babbling due to the many languages they were speaking. After all these people assume the disciples are drunk Peter stands up and gives a sermon on how Jesus came, was God, was killed, and now God was pouring out prophecy on them. After his message we find these verses which sparked a radical conversion. 3000 people in one day!! I want us to really look at this and see the gravity of what God does here. Prayer was poured out preparing the soil for reception. Once prepared it was ready to be utilized. Yesterday’s devotion pointed out how the Holy Spirit was sent for a purpose and now the first act He does on the scene is converting 3000 people! This simply further concretes the fact that He was sent for a mission.

Too often we view these revivals as “special” events, calling the church to revival, having revival weekends. Now none of that is TERRIBLE, and we will likely have revival events in the future but we need to realize that the conversion of unbelievers is the main mission… We shouldn’t be looking at these incredible conversion stories as fleeting exceptions to the norm and seek them to be the expectations of the norm. Let’s begin to pray, prepare our hearts, and look for what the Spirit is doing. Thousands of people are still being saved everyday, they are just spread out across the globe. Are you ready to be a part of this or are you happy with those “special” moments and a life filled with limited Spirit involvement?

Respond:

Lord I sometimes fail to remember the mission. I get caught up in my life, my mission, my dreams. Help me to not see Your mission as a side quest in this game of life, but instead be reminded that THIS is IT! Remind me that Your life was poured out so that I can pour out mine…

Relate:

Peter stood up and reminded those around him about what God has been doing. He didn’t prepare the setting, a message, or anything else. It was a spontaneous sharing of what God has done and it led to a “revival moment.” Perhaps we should be doing that periodically. Perhaps we need to be in prayer and walking with the Spirit, constantly asking Him what/when we need to say something. Perhaps we need to remind those around us about what God has done instead of leaving that to overly prepared messages or speeches. Perhaps it’s time to let God get involved in our lives… or perhaps things are fine the way they are…