Daily Devotional for Thursday, May 22

The Day of Pentecost

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions,” Joel 2:28.

As Joel called Judah to lament, mourn and repent of their sin, he described the terrifying day of the Lord. If they returned to the Lord, He is gracious and merciful and would forgive them. His promises are vast and sure. When He delivers His promises, everyone will know He is the Lord God.

One promise the Lord made through Joel was the sending of His Spirit. He would send His own Spirit to dwell among His people. His Spirit would indwell everyone, not just priests, prophets, leaders, or scribes. Servants and handmaids, sons and daughters, men, young and old, would receive His Spirit. Wonders would accompany His Spirit, and through Him, people will be saved. Judah looked forward to the day the Spirit would come down.

Jesus promised the Spirit as well. In John 14 and 16, Jesus said He must return to the Father, but the Helper would come and lead them into all truth (John 16:13). He would teach them all things and convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment.

On the day of Pentecost, as the believers of Christ were gathered, the promise of the Spirit’s coming was fulfilled. With a mighty rushing wind and tongues of fire, the Holy Spirit rested on each believer. Peter stood to address a confused crowd, and he quoted Joel 2 and the Lord’s promise of His Spirit. From that day on, every person—young, old, man, woman, servant, free—who places his faith in Christ receives the gift of His Spirit, and the Lord’s presence is ever with him.

THOUGHT

“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call” (Joel 2:32).

Kelli Reynolds