Baptism Weekend Devotional Day 7
DAY 7 – Sunday
Daily devotional
Read
Acts 1- 2:4
Ask
How is the Lord working in you by his Holy Spirit?
Reflect
So what happened after he ascended? Imagine if there wasn’t a sequel? What if the gospels ended and that was it or you read through the gospel of John and then turn the page to Paul writing to the followers of Jesus in Rome? You would wonder—wait what? Who is Paul and how did the gospel get from Jerusalem to Rome?
The book of Acts is key! At the time Jesus ascended to heaven the apostles whom Jesus appointed faced enormous obstacles. They were going to have to exercise faith with each step they took. The story of Jesus and all the remarkable things he had done was still hot off the press news. If the Pharisees had wanted Jesus dead, then anyone proclaiming his name was targeted as well. Acts is a book that’s full of “what happened next”!
Jesus promised them that they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit, which was a promise from the Father. The gift that would keep giving for generations of sons and daughters. The Spirit of Truth, the Comforter to the saints. God with us, literally. Jesus went on to tell them they would receive power from the Spirit and they would be His witnesses to the ends of the earth. These words had to be comforting to them. After Jesus ascended to heaven they waited for what was promised and committed themselves to continuous prayer.
If you read the scriptures above you know how the story plays out. What does this mean for us? The Holy Spirit will reside in every believer (the temple not made with hands). He will teach us in all things concerning Christ. He will comfort us, correct us, convict us, love us. He is the third person of the Trinity.
I have learned a lot this week studying! I hope you have too. The work of the Holy Spirit is gradual and if we trust Him we can know for certain that He changes us from the inside out and into the image of Christ. We have to desire to be with Jesus each day. How do you see his work in your life right now?