We had wind advisories around Omaha Monday. Maybe that's appropriate since Sunday was Pentecost reminding us of the day the wind of the Holy Spirit blew at gale force! Wouldn't it be great if Pentecost caused a spiritual wind advisory today that folks around town would notice - lots of witnessing and good works and love and well you know all the traits a good Christian should exhibit. What if Pentecost and the Holy Spirit caused each of us to go deeper in our faith and propelled us to get out of our faith boat and take some actions even more scary than walking on the water?
That seems a bit far out doesn't it? But should it really? Shouldn't Pentecost remind us of the call we have by the power of the Holy Spirit? Wouldn't Pentecost today be as powerful as Pentecost then if we would all just hear His call? He's speaking our language but are we hearing?
On that first Pentecost (50 days after Passover) the Jews were celebrating Shavuot- a day to remember the giving of the Torah- the first five books of our Bible. Passover celebrated their release from Egypt and Pharoh, Shavuot celebrated who they really belonged to all along. They also celebrated this day as a day of First Fruits- giving back to the One who had given them so much.
Maybe Pentecost some 2000 years ago was a slightly breezy day already. Maybe the disciples were watching people bring their 'Bikkurim' (first fruits) to the temple when the wind picked up and Pentecost suddenly got a new and improved meaning. God brought a gift to the disciples they would never forget, one that would change them forever, the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit called them to share a message that went beyond the Savuot's Torah focus. When the Gospel was preached that first day, thousands responded.
Today, though we are gifted with the Holy Spirit as well, our spiritual wind seems to be at best a soft breeze, at worst a quiet, still silence. And yet the Holy Spirit continues to call us to be 'blow-hards' of a sort, a refreshing breeze of faith for others to see and feel. I'm praying Pentecost becomes a reminder for us to be just that.
Interestingly, tradition holds that the first Shavuot was celebrated by Noah. So really Shavuot represents the gift of a promise to Noah- to never flood the earth again, the gift of the Torah- God's Word, and lastly we would add the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thinking of these three great gifts sorta makes Pentecost a bit more meaningful and powerful doesn't it?
So let's have a shoutout for Shavuot and Pentecost. Let's rejoice in all of God's rich gifts to us and respond as we should, faithfully and actively. I read where 'drafts' move vertically and 'winds' blow horizontally. Makes sense then that God 'drafted' us on Pentecost to be His 'wind' here on earth touching others. Pentecost reminds us to breeze though life with this greater purpose. By the power of the Holy Spirit we can impact the lives of others for God with gust-o!
Shavuotly Yours!
Keith
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