Missionary Renegade: The Upper Room Daily Devotional from The United Methodist Church of Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Tuesday, 24 October 2017 "Clothed in the Spirit" by Taavi Hollman

Monday, October 23, 2017

The Upper Room Daily Devotional from The United Methodist Church of Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Tuesday, 24 October 2017 "Clothed in the Spirit" by Taavi Hollman - Acts of the Apostles 2:1-12

The Upper Room Daily Devotional from The United Methodist Church of Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Tuesday, 24 October 2017 "Clothed in the Spirit" by Taavi Hollman - Acts of the Apostles 2:1-12

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2017

Jesus said, “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49 (NIV))
My friend invited me to be one of four groomsmen in his wedding. After arriving in America, I was taken to a shop where all the groomsmen were fitted for our tuxedos. Even after a long journey from Europe, I could relax — not having to worry about all the details of the role my friend had entrusted to me.
In a similar way, our Lord prepared his disciples. He was aware of their inadequate understanding of how to follow God’s will daily. God sent the Holy Spirit to give them wisdom and strength: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,  and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
The apostle Peter tells us that we all can be clothed with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). What a wonderful prospect! We don’t need to worry about buying or making that attire ourselves. The groom had prepared everything I needed for his wedding. How much more can we trust our lives in the hands of God, who fills us with the Holy Spirit and empowers us every day to serve our Bridegroom!
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Dear God, thank you for constantly being within us through the gift of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
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TODAY'S READING: Acts of the Apostles 2:1-12
Acts 2: The festival of Shavu‘ot arrived, and the believers all gathered together in one place. 2 Suddenly there came a sound from the sky like the roar of a violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire, which separated and came to rest on each one of them. 4 They were all filled with the Ruach HaKodesh and began to talk in different languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.
5 Now there were staying in Yerushalayim religious Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered; they were confused, because each one heard the believers speaking in his own language. 7 Totally amazed, they asked, “How is this possible? Aren’t all these people who are speaking from the Galil? 8 How is it that we hear them speaking in our native languages? 9 We are Parthians, Medes, Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Y’hudah, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome; 11 Jews by birth and proselytes; Jews from Crete and from Arabia. . . ! How is it that we hear them speaking in our own languages about the great things God has done?” 12 Amazed and confused, they all went on asking each other, “What can this mean?”
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