I excel at procrastination. The major, overwhelming projects—even the small, simple stuff—I’ll put off for weeks or months if the deadline isn’t pressing. So the whole idea of working a little bit here and there, slowly and methodically chipping away at a task or assignment… it’s just never worked for me. Give me an imminent deadline, though, and suddenly my productivity kicks into high gear. Motivated by deadlines, I thrive under pressure. However you manage your to-do list items, it can be hard to get started on a new task, especially when it’s a large project with no clear direction for how to begin. But this struggle to begin our work isn’t anything new; early followers of Jesus faced the same challenges.

On the day of the very first Pentecost, just weeks after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven to be with God, people familiar with Jesus and his teachings were gathered together. Before departing, Jesus had given them a big assignment: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20a). In other words, “grow my life story into a worldwide movement, a global faith.” What?! How do you even begin such a large task? But just as the procrastination was starting to set in, something inexplainable happened.

It started as a sound from heaven, like a howling wind. Then came flames, followed by something that led everyone gathered to speak in foreign languages. This supernatural event turned out to be the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, come to make good on Jesus’ promise to “be with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b). And this Spirit at work in the lives of God’s people stirred the people to begin the work to which Jesus commissioned them. Led by the Spirit, Jesus’ followers baptized people by the thousands, adding daily to the number of people who believed in the truth of the Gospel (Acts 2). Today we consider this movement of the Spirit on that first Pentecost to be the birth of the Church.

I love the Pentecost story! Like Christmas and Easter, there’s something wonderfully mysterious about this holy day that compels us to come and see for ourselves what all the commotion is about. It’s about welcoming the Holy Spirit into our lives; it’s about getting swept up into the story of Jesus and his love, building our faith on the foundation of that story, and then sharing it with others. Bottom line, Pentecost comes down to one thing: our confession of faith. Will we accept the Spirit’s invitation to believe in the truths of who Jesus is and commit our lives to following him and his ways? One by one, Christians have answered “yes” with the confession, “I believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and I accept him as my Lord and Savior.” This Pentecost, recall your own confession of faith, open yourself to the Spirit’s leading, and let yourself get swept up into the excitement of following Jesus all over again! Happy birthday, Church!!

*A few weeks ago, Mark and I wrote a song telling the story of Pentecost to go along with this devotional. You can read the lyrics or listen below.

Verse 1

A sound from heaven like a howling wind

Swept through the city and then right in

To the house where Peter stayed.

The Wind filled the house and apostles full

And fanned holy flames within them all

Til the Spirit that was with them led each one of them to say:

Chorus 1 (Apostles)

I believe he’s the Christ, Son of God and Lord of Life.

I believe; I believe; I believe.

Verse 2

Judah’s daughters and Israel’s sons,

Speaking praise in foreign tongues

To the God of Moses, Jacob, David, Mary, Abraham.

The onlookers, they had their doubts

But Peter rose and told them ‘bout

The time when Jesus asked him, “Who do you say I am?”

[Simon Peter looked at him and said]

Chorus 2 (Peter)

I believe you’re the Christ, Son of God and Lord of Life.

I believe; I believe; I believe.

Verse 3

Peter stood and said out loud

To the large Jerus’lem crowd that

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

He’s seated on the throne beside

Our God who should be glorified,

Coming on the Spirit to baptize and call you when

Chorus 3 (one person)

You believe he’s the Christ, Son of God and Lord of Life.

So believe; so believe; so believe.

Bridge

One by one the Spirit moved

Stirring hearts with ancient truths

Of prophecies fulfilled through God’s own Son.

Like wildfire, news of Jesus spread

To every home where, breaking bread,

The Church it grew in number one by one;

One by one they sang their confession:

Chorus 3 (several people)

I believe he’s the Christ, Son of God and Lord of Life.

I believe; I believe; I believe.

The Spirit of Pentecost

The Importance of Place

Spreading Joy this May Day