How Did You Hear? – Week of June 6, 2022
When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
John 15:26-27
ECME Devotion June 6, 2022
See series: ECME Devotions
How did you hear? Who was the first one to tell you about God? For some, it was Mom or Dad when they were a small child. Or perhaps a teacher. For some of you it may have been a friend or coworker. Somewhere in your life, someone told you about God and there have likely been many additional people along the way who also shared things about faith with you.
This Sunday was Pentecost Sunday. In Bible times, Pentecost was a special time of year. It was the Feast of Harvest. Jews came to Jerusalem from all over the world to celebrate. The city was likely packed with people speaking many different languages.
Before he went back to heaven, Jesus told the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit who would teach them about Jesus as they had never learned before. The way the Holy Spirit came that day was miraculous and unique: the sound of a strong wind, the flames of fire on the disciples’ heads, and the immediate ability to speak in different languages. They were being prepared to take what they know and go out and tell others all over the world. Out they went, into Jerusalem, to use this new gift and all that they had learned from and about Jesus to tell all those they could. What an amazing day!
You and I don’t have the experience that the disciples did on that first Pentecost, but God asks us to do the same. You are a witness of Jesus. While you didn’t travel with him like the disciples, you have learned about him from the Bible and from others. Now God says to you and me, “Go!” Trust that the Holy Spirit is the one who creates faith, but he gives us the privilege of telling the story of God’s grace through Jesus for all people. We are told to go and tell but also, we get to tell!
Someone was the first or second or fiftieth person to tell you about God. You get to be that person for others. Think about the people you know. Who can you tell? Who can you encourage? Who can you comfort with the message of God’s love, forgiveness, and grace? You and I can go with joy and with confidence knowing that God not only told us to go, he also promised to be with us as we do.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, I am so grateful for the faith you have given me. I cannot imagine my life without knowing your love and grace for me. Give me eagerness and courage to tell others about you and not miss opportunities to do so. Then bless the message through the work of the Holy Spirit. In your name I pray. Amen
A Thought to Consider:
Consider the following hymn for reflection:
CW93 561, CW21 743
Text: © 1993 John C. Lawrenz
I hear the Savior calling! The gospel come to me;
My eyes, once closed in blindness, are opened now to see
That I myself was helpless to live eternally,
But, dying, Christ did save me, and now he calls for me!
I hear the Savior calling! He leads a soul to me,
A soul in bitter anguish, one needing to be free.
The gift I have to offer is Christ, my Lord’s decree
That all have been forgiven; my Savior calls for me!
I hear the Savior calling! His call has urgency;
Each moment souls are dying, soon comes eternity.
And so, my precious Savior, this is my humble plea:
Prepare me for my mission, for you are calling me!
