Lutheran Devotional 11th June 2025, Wednesday Message
TOPIC: God Living in Us
Acts 2:14a, 22b-24, 31b-36 – But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. … Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves know—this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised Him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it … [King David] spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool.”’ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Every year when I read this passage, it surprises me to see how much Peter has changed. Two months ago he was denying Jesus and pretending he didn’t even know Him, afraid for his life. Now Peter’s standing in front of a crowd of people, some of them outright hostile to him—and he’s not pulling any punches at all. He’s telling them straight out about Jesus—that He was crucified, though He had done nothing to deserve it; that God raised Him from the dead; that He is now at the right hand of God, with all authority and power; and that He sent the Holy Spirit.
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If you think about it, just saying any one of those things is enough to get Peter himself killed! And I’m sure there were plenty of rocks lying around, if the crowd wanted to stone him. What has gotten into Peter?
It’s the Holy Spirit, of course! He is God Himself, come to live inside each one of us who trusts in Jesus; and He can take a terrified sinner like Peter and turn him into a witness for Christ with no trouble at all. He can take a group of completely ordinary people like the first Christians and use them to turn the world upside down with the good news of God’s saving love. And He can take people like us, with all of our flaws and brokenness, and make us God’s own children, trusting in Jesus and serving as the lights He sends out into a dark, dark world even today.
I’m so glad Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit. What would I do without Him?
WE PRAY: Dear Lord, thank You for coming to us and living inside us. Keep working in me to trust in Jesus with all my heart. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
- What do you know about the Holy Spirit? What is He like?
- Why do you think God chose to come so close to us that He even lives inside of us?
- When you are afraid or in trouble, how does the Holy Spirit help you?
Today’s Readings:
