Receive!

Receive!

Acts 2:38 KJV

[38] Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

As was laid out in the devotion for yesterday, there is a race for everyone on the face of the earth. Whether you know it or not, God has called you into a race; not a competitive one where there is only one winner, but one where we all can be winners. It really does matter then that I get on the race to which God has called me. However, as nice as it all sounds, there is a start point for everything that God calls us to. The race does not start for me unless and until I get to the start point, which is the focus of the verse above. Men have elevated strong morals as a good place to start. Some see strong financial management as a good place to start. Unfortunately, none of these are viewed by God as a good place to start. It is important for me to know God's mind about what He has called me to do and be, and that is the only time that my race can be said to fully start. 

The verse above was Peter's first sermon after the Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost, in line with the promise of Jesus before He ascended into heaven. As soon as the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles at Pentecost, the power required to birth and sustain change was released. This power is what enables me to start my race the right way and at the right place. Influence and connections have no value here; riches and wealth do not count here. The place to start is the confession of Jesus as Lord and Saviour, and accepting Him into my heart. That is the message of the verse above. I note that the message of Peter, though directed at the crowd, was addressed to them as single individuals. I cannot hide behind corporate annointing to avoid personal confession of Jesus as Lord and Saviour. It is a decision that I must make, and one that must be made before it is too late. 

The race is timed; you do not have forever on this side of eternity to sort out your pursuits and priorities. I am not in competition with anyone to finish first; that is not the focus here. It is a race of earthly impact and eternal life with God. There is first an internal change and then external impact. I must first repent from my past sin, and look to God to cause the internal change that will sustain the outward impact. It is when these are in place that the Holy Spirit can come. He will not live in a heart that has not been surrendered to Him. He has no use for a life that He cannot direct. The Holy Spirit is a non-negotiable part of my walk of walk with God. I need Him for all of life and its realities and challenges. I will not survive without Him. Do you have Him? Does He know you as His own? It cannot be assumed; it must be certain. God's time of favour is here.