Sun.’s Devo - Today is Pentecost

Read: 2 Samuel 17:1-29; John 19:23-42; Psalm 119:129-152; Proverbs 16:12-13
After Absalom slept with David’s concubines, he met with his advisor, Ahithophel to decide what to do next. He advised Absalom to rally a big army of men and go after David immediately. Absalom decided to ask Hushai what he thought they should do. Hushai, David’s spy, advised him to rally an even bigger army from all over Israel and then go after David. This would give David more time to escape.
Absalom decided that the bigger army sounded the better and decided to follow Hushai’s advise. Ahithophel was so distraught that his advise didn’t get taken that he went home and hung himself.
The priest’s sons, Jonathan and Ahimaaz were to take the word to David. They were seen by a small boy who told on them. A man hid them in his well and his wife covered it with cloth and grain to hide the well. They were not discovered and were able to continue their journey to tell David the plan. They also brought supplies for him and his men.
In John, I noticed something I have not noticed before. No matter how many prophecies Jesus fulfilled in his death to prove that he was indeed the Messiah, they were bound by their schedules and traditions. As the lamb of God was hanging on a cross, the Jews were hurrying home to prepare for the Passover week and Shabbot the next day. Life was going on as before.
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus honored Jesus in his death and provided his tomb and ointments but no one was prepared for the day after next when he would rise from the dead.
This reminds me of us and how we are so programmed in our daily lives that we often miss the miraculous things God is doing all around us.
Today is the day the Jews celebrate Pentecost and it is going to mark a Pentecost season where we are going to witness and do the very miracles that Jesus did. We are also going to face the persecution that the apostles faced and fellowship in the sufferings of Christ. But, the great news is that a fresh new rain of God’s Spirit is falling on his people and we are going to speak with new tongues and boldly proclaim the risen Lord. God is coming to earth to celebrate this Pentecost with us and he is bringing the gift of his Holy Spirit.
Lord, may we prepare our hearts for what you are going to be doing on the earth. May we be willing vessels for your Spirit to move in us.