May 25 Devotion

Please read Acts 2: 1-21 and Psalm 104: 24-34, 35b

There is power in words. You need only to look at the first book in the Bible to see the power of words. God created the universe with words. He spoke, and there was light. He spoke, and there was a sky to separate the heavens from the water, and so on. John begins his gospel by saying “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Pentecost was the day that the Jews celebrated the gift of the Word—the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible. That is why they were together that day. The day was in commemoration of the day of the gift of God’s Word given to Moses on Mt. Sinai. So it was a time of celebration of this incredible gift of God’s Word and being set apart as God’s people. And yet on this festival day some were huddled together in a room, frightened and discouraged, staying under the radar.

Then, suddenly, God sent His Holy Spirit to give words and power—Good News and the power to live up to what Jesus said and did.

Pentecost reminds us that God is still creating. In the words of the psalmist, God “sends forth His spirit and we are created, and He renews the face of the earth.” At Pentecost, the Apostles were gifted to share God’s message in ways that all could understand. At Pentecost, God’s word became accessible by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Alleluia! Come, Spirit Come.

Where is the power of your church? What happened on Pentecost was a miracle, and it still is a miracle when people actually see and hear and understand the works of God by people who are empowered by the Holy Spirit. Listen to the words of the first verse of “Spirit of God,” number 2117 in The Faith We Sing.

Spirit of God, bright Wind
Breath that bids life begin
Blow as you always do
Create us anew.
Give us the breath to sing
Lifted on soaring wing
Held in your hands,
Borne on your wings
Alleluia, Come Spirit come.
Alleluia, Come Spirit come.

Dear God, by the Power of Your Holy Spirit, create us anew. Give us the breath to sing your praises and the faith to soar with you. Give us power to discern what you call us to be and to do. Come Holy Spirit, come! Amen.

Jeff Taylor