Focus

Take a few minutes to push the “pause” button on whatever is going on around you and be still with God.

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Read

Acts 2:14-24 (NRSV)

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

‘In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.
Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.
And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

“You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know— this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power.

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Reflect

I love reading about the mighty acts of God and how the movement of Christianity had its beginning through servants like Peter. Peter had had his moments, but once filled with the Holy Spirit on that day of Pentecost, he stepped up to the plate and proclaimed God’s plan of salvation.

Peter’s sermon reminds us of the privilege we have to share God’s plan of salvation with all people. Response to hearing the gospel message comes through the power of the Holy Spirit as it acts in the lives of people. We know about the response to Peter’s sermon after which more than 3,000 people professed Christ.

The response to Peter’s sermon should encourage us to continue to share the plan of salvation and to leave the results up to God. The next time God presents you with an opportunity to share the plan of salvation, be like Peter: Seize the moment and trust God with the rest.

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Pray

God, use me to share the plan of salvation and help me to seize every opportunity to do so. Amen.

Go with God.