And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.

— Ezekiel 36:27

Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

— Genesis 1:2

For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

— 2 Peter 1:21

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

— Job 33:4

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

— Acts 1:8

Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for He has given you the autumn rains for your vindication. He sends you showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.

— Joel 2:23

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace and mercy to you from the Lord Jesus.

Prophets Joel, Isaiah and Ezekiel all looked far into the future to a downpour of God’s grace. God promised to pour out His Spirit on all people who would respond to His call. In reality, there has never been a time the Holy Spirit has not been active. The Holy Spirit, as the author of Scripture, inspired human writers to record God’s message to the world. He gives and sustains life. He has always guided and lovingly influenced God’s people. Jesus reaffirmed the prophets’ promise of a new day when the Holy Spirit would come to live within God’s people and lead them and empower them to tell others about Jesus. God promised to transform believers from the inside out through the Holy Spirit, showing that they are His children.

On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit poured out to fill Jesus’ disciples and enabled them to speak and praise God in many different languages. Peter, emboldened by the Holy Spirit, told the crowd, “This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:’In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.’” Like the rains Joel promised would renew parched and ruined land, the Holy Spirit brings new spiritual life to all who believe. Joel’s prophecy in the Old Testament actually reaches beyond Pentecost to Christ’s return—the great day of the Lord, when time and history will end. Jesus will return as judge. He will condemn His enemies but rescue and reward His people. Hallelujah!