Pentecost

"When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place....[And] all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit...” (Acts 2:1 & 4)

What do you think of when you hear the word APentecost@?  For some, it conjures up negative images of emotionalism, obstinacy, and religious fanaticism.  For others, it evokes the positive images of God's constant presence, power, and peace in our lives today.  And for still others, APentecost@ has no real impact or meaning at all B some of us know a lot about God as Father and about Jesus as his Son, but are a bit confused as to how Pentecost and the Holy Spirit fit into our faith.

But no matter what stereotypes you might have, we all need to be aware that without Pentecost and the Holy Spirit, there would be no Christian Church today.  Consequently, there would be no Christians, either, for the Holy Spirit is that manifestation of God who brings us to salvation, enables us to respond to God's grace given through Jesus, and gives us the power and ability to grow in that grace for the rest of our lives.  Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot even begin to live a Christian life.  The day called APentecost,@ then, is the holiday that we Christians celebrate as a reminder of this need.

You see, contrary to what some people or churches may think or imply, the Holy Spirit is not the sole possession of select Asuper-spiritual@ Christians, or of certain denominations or churches, but belongs to ALL who profess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  If we are a Christian, the Spirit already lives within us.  The question that each of us needs to answer, then, is NOT ADo we have the Holy Spirit?@ but rather ADoes the Holy Spirit have US?@  Who is in the pilot seat of YOUR life:  You? or God?  This Pentecost (Sunday, May 24), my prayer is that you will open yourself to God=s Spirit as the pilot of your life.  Remember, God loves you and I do, too!