The Book of Acts: Turn Your World Upside DownSample

Today’s Devotional:

What’s the best gift you’ve received? Maybe it was for your birthday or at Christmas. I’ve always loved receiving gifts, especially wrapped gifts, so I don’t immediately know what it is. I love the mystery, the anticipation, and the surprise! But one birthday was exceptional. After I opened my presents, my wife had one more—she sent me an email with a video attached. It was 15 people who I hadn’t seen in years, from all over the country, who shared what my life and ministry had meant to them. It’s still the best present I’ve ever received for my birthday or Christmas.

Gifts have that power since they are an expression of love. You receive gifts because you matter to someone and are significant in their life. Guess what? God loves you and has a gift for you because you matter and are significant to Him.

Peter often witnessed God giving a gift to people. Peter saw it in Acts 2 when God gave the gift of His Holy Spirit to the people in the upper room on Pentecost, and in Acts 11 when God gave the same gift to the Gentiles or those who aren’t Jewish.

Peter and the Jewish leaders were surprised by that last one. So in Acts 11, Peter shares everything that happened with the leaders in Jerusalem, especially in Cornelius’ house. Peter tells them what God did: Gentiles confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior, and they received God's gift of the Holy Spirit, just like they did. Peter didn’t expect this but said, “Who was I to think I could stand in God’s way?” Peter and the leaders shouldn’t have been surprised. How can you even live the Christian life without the Holy Spirit?

How could you understand the Bible? The Holy Spirit helps you understand God’s Word. How could you grow in your walk with the Lord? The Holy Spirit empowers you to resist sin. How could you bond with a group of people at your church that you now call family? The Holy Spirit unites you with other believers in the Church. And as good as that is, Acts 11 reminds us that God has another gift for you—He gives you a new identity.

Once you receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, you are a “Christian,” as Acts 11:26 tells us. You are still known by your own name, but now you have a new identity—a Christian—which means you are a follower of Jesus, and that’s logical since His Spirit, or the Spirit of Jesus, now lives with you forever.

What’s the best gift you’ve received? And even if your gift was as exceptional as mine on that one birthday, I guarantee the gift of the Holy Spirit that God wants to give you is better. Because it’s from God, it reveals you matter and are significant to Him.

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Today’s devotional was written by Pastor Randy Allison.

Questions to Consider:

• Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what gifts He wants to give you. What do you sense Him stirring in your spirit?
• Have you fully received the gift of a new identity in Jesus?

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, thank you for your generous gifts. Help me to live a life surrendered to you and open to every new gift you have for me. Amen.