Monday, May 20 – “On the day of firstfruits, when you present to the Lord an offering of new grain during the Festival of Weeks, hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.” (Numbers 28:26) We can never forget that God has never been up to something new. The only thing that’s new is our understanding of what God’s up to. Fifty days after Jesus was resurrected, at the Festival of Weeks, when the firstfruits of the harvest were presented to God, the Holy Spirit crashed the scene. The result was over 3,000 getting baptized because of their newly found faith in Jesus. This was an amazing “offering of new grain”, that became a “sacred assembly”. And it was definitely not “regular work”!
Tuesday, May 21 – “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 23:22) This is the original version of well-fair. Part of the harvest was left alone, so that those less fortunate could have something to eat. This is a gift to those “outside”. And that’s how the Holy Spirit works. The gift of the Holy Spirit is for those outside a faith in Jesus. For the Holy Spirit empowers followers of Jesus to connect with those who are outside. It’s always been this way and it will always be this way.
Wednesday, May 22 – “The Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:17) The world knows nothing of the Holy Spirit. What the world does know of is you and me. The gift of the Holy Spirit has been given to followers of Jesus, so that we can be light and salt for the world. So that people in the world will follow Jesus and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And the process starts all over again. It’s in your DNA, as a follower of Jesus. You make your home with God. And, through the power of the Holy Spirit, you meet people where they are, speaking their language. So that they can make the choice to make their home with God.
Thursday, May 23 – “On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.’” (Acts 1:4) These are the words of Jesus, after the resurrection and before his ascension to heaven. He’s telling his disciples about the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Yet, hindsight is always 20/20. How scared must the disciples have been? So much uncertainty? So much to wait for, in the midst of fear and confusion? Basically, they had to stay in the very city where Jesus had been murdered; as followers of that very same Jesus. What would become of them?
Friday, May 24 – “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” (Genesis 1:2) The Holy Spirit didn’t just merely show up on Pentecost. The Holy Spirit has always been here. For, just like Jesus, the Holy Spirit is God. God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is the original they/them. The difference is that since Pentecost, the Holy Spirit dwells in the lives of all followers of Jesus. Before Pentecost, the Holy Spirit only dwelt in the lives of specific people, at specific times, for specific purposes. Never forget that God is never up to something new. The only thing that’s new is our understanding of what God’s up to.
Saturday, May 25 – “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11) These are the words of John the Baptist. He’s speaking of Jesus, who just so happened to be his cousin. The baptism of the Holy Spirit first occurred on Pentecost. And it continues to happen every time someone makes the decision to follow Jesus. The fire is the ongoing refining fire of learning and growing. The silver smith refines the silver with fire, until they can see themselves in the silver. And God will continue to refine you with fire, until God can see themselves in you.
Tuesday, May 21 – “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 23:22) This is the original version of well-fair. Part of the harvest was left alone, so that those less fortunate could have something to eat. This is a gift to those “outside”. And that’s how the Holy Spirit works. The gift of the Holy Spirit is for those outside a faith in Jesus. For the Holy Spirit empowers followers of Jesus to connect with those who are outside. It’s always been this way and it will always be this way.
Wednesday, May 22 – “The Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:17) The world knows nothing of the Holy Spirit. What the world does know of is you and me. The gift of the Holy Spirit has been given to followers of Jesus, so that we can be light and salt for the world. So that people in the world will follow Jesus and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And the process starts all over again. It’s in your DNA, as a follower of Jesus. You make your home with God. And, through the power of the Holy Spirit, you meet people where they are, speaking their language. So that they can make the choice to make their home with God.
Thursday, May 23 – “On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.’” (Acts 1:4) These are the words of Jesus, after the resurrection and before his ascension to heaven. He’s telling his disciples about the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Yet, hindsight is always 20/20. How scared must the disciples have been? So much uncertainty? So much to wait for, in the midst of fear and confusion? Basically, they had to stay in the very city where Jesus had been murdered; as followers of that very same Jesus. What would become of them?
Friday, May 24 – “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” (Genesis 1:2) The Holy Spirit didn’t just merely show up on Pentecost. The Holy Spirit has always been here. For, just like Jesus, the Holy Spirit is God. God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is the original they/them. The difference is that since Pentecost, the Holy Spirit dwells in the lives of all followers of Jesus. Before Pentecost, the Holy Spirit only dwelt in the lives of specific people, at specific times, for specific purposes. Never forget that God is never up to something new. The only thing that’s new is our understanding of what God’s up to.
Saturday, May 25 – “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11) These are the words of John the Baptist. He’s speaking of Jesus, who just so happened to be his cousin. The baptism of the Holy Spirit first occurred on Pentecost. And it continues to happen every time someone makes the decision to follow Jesus. The fire is the ongoing refining fire of learning and growing. The silver smith refines the silver with fire, until they can see themselves in the silver. And God will continue to refine you with fire, until God can see themselves in you.
You try to eat right. You drink plenty of water. you exercise. don't forget your spirit - feed it!
daily devotions
