May 15 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

We are inclined to think that Acts 2, the chapter on the first Pentecost, should explain who the Holy Spirit is, what the Spirit does, and how the Spirit works. However, what the first sermon on the first Pentecost explains is not who the Spirit is but who Jesus is. And that is exactly the whole aim of the Spirit: to tell us who Jesus is for us. Unless the Spirit tells us, we will never know.

The last words of Peter's sermon form the thrust of the Spirit's spear aimed at the heart of Israel. "All Israel"—the priests, the rulers, and all the people are summoned by this proclamation to acknowledge Jesus. For Jesus is Lord, the One who, according to the psalmist, would share God's glory. And the prophet declared that whoever called on Jesus' name would be saved. Moreover, Jesus is Christ. The Jewish word for Christ is Messiah. Jesus was the One for whom the Fathers hoped and Israel longed. But Israel had opposed its Lord and crucified the Messiah. The barbs on the spear shaft are in those three words whom you crucified.

In this speech the apostle Peter rose to the full height of his great commission. Without fear he proclaimed the lordship of Jesus and accused his nation of the crime of the crucifixion. A few weeks before, the same man had cowered before the saucy tongue of a servant. There is no other explanation for the change than the fact of the resurrection and the coming of the power from on high.

Let us firmly believe what the Spirit can and will do. All of us should quit being impressed with the power of thought and the power of money and the power of people. In answer to our prayers, God will grant us the power of the Spirit. He will impress on us that Jesus is the only Lord. And when that fact has fully entered our consciousness, we will live without fear, in sheer dependence on God's favor in Christ Jesus.

REFLECTIONS

As you feel led to do so, pray for an increased presence of the Holy Spirit in your life, particularly in those areas where you sense you are weak.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.