Reflections of Grace
ORDINARY EXTRAORDINARY
Scripture
Acts 2:1-13
1When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.2And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.3And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.5Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.6And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.7And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?8And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?9Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,11both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians — we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”12And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”13But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
Reflect
- 1.The disciples were together when the Holy Spirit came suddenly. Where do you need to wait on God with others instead of trying to move forward alone?
- 2.Where are you trying to manufacture spiritual experiences or force results in your own strength instead of simply being filled and letting the Spirit lead?
- 3.Who has God placed within your reach who needs to hear about his grace in a way they can understand?
- 4.The crowd responded with both amazement and mockery. How do you respond when God is working in ways that surprise, challenge, or unsettle you?
Exposition
Sometimes we feel too ordinary for God’s mission. We know our limitations. We feel our fear, weakness, and lack of eloquence. The disciples in were not powerful people by worldly standards. They were waiting, gathered together, dependent on what Jesus had promised.
Then the Holy Spirit came. The sound filled the house. Tongues as of fire rested on them. They began to speak in languages they had not learned, and people from many nations heard the mighty works of God in words they could understand. God was making something clear from the beginning: the gospel is not for one nation, one class, or one kind of person. Jesus is good news for the world.
God does not wait for impressive people before he moves. He fills ordinary believers with his Spirit and uses them to speak about an extraordinary Savior. The power belongs to God. The message is about Christ. The mission reaches farther than we imagine.
But the passage also shows that not everyone will respond the same way. That should not surprise us. When God works, some hearts lean in with wonder while others push away with pride. Our calling is not to control every reaction, but to faithfully bear witness.
So do not despise your ordinary place in God’s mission. Pray. Depend on the Spirit. Speak clearly of what God has done. The Spirit still empowers weak people, the gospel still crosses barriers, and the mighty works of God are still worth telling.
Prayer
“Father, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to empower your people for witness. Help me depend on your strength instead of my own ability. Give me love for people from every background and courage to speak of your grace clearly. Use my ordinary life to point others to the mighty works of Jesus.”
LWNRA · Daily Word