“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” -- Romans 8:1
The story of the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts 2 paints a vivid picture of the Holy Spirit coming after Jesus ascended into heaven. When you ask Christians what happened on that day, most are quick to talk about how flaming tongues rested on the heads of Jesus’ followers. They might also talk about how Jesus’ followers spilled out into the street from the upper room and preached in languages they’d never spoken before. These are amazing miracles, but there’s something that took place that few people tend to grasp, and I think it might be the biggest miracle of all.
The day of Pentecost was the first time since the Fall of man that the Holy Spirit empowered men to live righteously. We know Jesus’ death and resurrection have put us in right standing with God, but the Holy Spirit actually empowers us to live according to that righteous position.
Did you know that Pentecost is a Jewish feast that celebrates Moses receiving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai? Consider the magnitude of what God was doing when He sent the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. From the time the Law was given to Moses until the Holy Spirit came, it was impossible to keep the Law. In fact, Moses didn’t even make it to the bottom of the mountain before the children of Israel had broken the commandments. But in Acts 2, during the celebration of God sending His commandments, He sent the Holy Spirit to empower us to be righteous.
Because of the Holy Spirit, instead of being held to the impossible standards of the Old Testament law, we can now walk according to the law of love Jesus speaks about in Matthew 22:35-40. This is good news because we cannot live righteously without the power of the Holy Spirit. But because of what happened in that upper room on the day of Pentecost, we can now live righteously!
PRAYER
Holy Spirit, thank You for bringing Your presence to us on the day of Pentecost and for empowering us to live rightly before Christ. As I go about my day today, remind me of Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
FOR FURTHER STUDY
- Matthew 3:11; Matthew 22:35-40; Acts 2:5-13; Ephesians 2:19-22
Taken from The God I Never Knew, a Gateway devotion.
