Acts 2:14-21

“No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.’” vss. 16-17

When the Spirit blew into the lives of the disciples with firepower beyond their imagining, no one was quite sure what was happening, and they naturally sought understanding in scripture. And the old prophet Joel gave them clarifying insights. Joel had said that one day the Spirit would be poured out upon all flesh, and there would be dreams and visions for everyone. Men and women, young and old, all would be transformed by the Spirit! This is still our Pentecostal experience! Every year we take stock of whose we are and look with enthusiasm toward the future, expecting our dreams and visions to become realities. And this year, post-COVID, it really feels good to hope! The last year has been full of trials and tribulations and our enthusiasm has waned. Some imagined that the Spirit had departed! But in Christ, days of suffering are signs of a vibrant future. God isn’t nearly finished with us and the best is yet to come–one day all flesh will be resurrected! This is only the birthday of the Church and not a final reunion! We can’t even imagine the glories of the days to come!

Thought for the Day: What is my vision for the Church?