Scripture: Acts 2:14-16
NRS 14 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. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
Devotional: Yesterday, we saw Peter rise as the leader of the early church. He became The Rock upon which Jesus would build His Church. Today, we find a preacher who was so inspiring that thousands were baptized. Yesterday, the believers chose a replacement apostle as they gathered in an upper room waiting on power from on high. Today, the Spirit has descended, tongues of flame have appeared, unknown languages have been spoken and accusations of drunkenness have been made. Yesterday, they were devoting themselves to prayer. Today, they are boldly proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Yesterday, forgiveness and humility empowered Peter to lead. Today, the Holy Spirit has empowered Peter to interpret the Scriptures and to boldly proclaim that Jesus is both Lord and Messiah. In his humble boldness, he denied the accusations of drunkenness and pointed all who were gathered to the explanation offered by the prophet Joel. When he had finished his Holy Spirit empowered preaching, three thousand people got baptized. The very person who had failed to catch fish when he returned to his former life, was transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Instead of dragging a net with one hundred and fifty-three fish to shore, he was catching three thousand people for the Kingdom. That same transforming power of the Holy Spirit resides in each and every one of us. The same power that turned a humbled fisherman into a humbly bold preacher can transform each of us. Peter was transformed by the Holy Spirit into a leader, a preacher, a healer and a church grower. Into what will the Spirit transform us?
Prayer: Lord, today we pray for transformation in our own lives. We confess our sin and accept Your forgiveness. May You transform us through the power of Your Holy Spirit. May we become servants who fulfill the needs of the Kingdom. Mold us into Your will for our lives. We pray all of this in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Song of praise: The Same Power by Jeremy Camp
Spiritual discipline challenge: Today we study. We have seen the transformation of Peter as recorded in Scripture. Our challenge is to search the Scriptures for other stories of transformation. How do our stories of transformation relate to those recorded in Scripture?
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