Lord Jesus, I thank you for 62 years of marriage with my wife Marilynn and all the life you have given us — inviting each us to have a special encounter with you forty-eight years ago on back to back evenings; our four married children, their spouses, and thirteen children; our special daughter born with Down syndrome who teaches us about your love and ways; a baby lost in miscarriage whom we have never met; our health; and your provision for our daily needs.

Though challenges have been encountered, your presence has seen us through them even when we may not have recognized that you were there.    

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.  For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness through all generations.” (Psalm 100: 4-5)

“The promise [of the Holy Spirit] is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.”  (Acts 2:39)

Saint Peter is speaking to a crowd of three thousand after the apostles experienced the baptism in the Holy Spirit following Jesus’ ascension, as described in Chapter 2 of the Book of Acts. 

Who are the people that are “far off?”  That’s us – you and me.  We are far off in time and distance.  But it is the same Holy Spirit with the same gifts of the Holy Spirit as set out in Isaiah 11 of wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge and fear of the Lord, and the same gifts as listed in 1 Corinthians 12 of faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing spirits, and speaking in different kinds of tongues. 

These gifts of the Holy Spirit are timeless in God’s eyes.  They were not meant just for the apostles and their followers, but also for those who are “far off” – us.  The gift of knowledge and wisdom enables us to discern how to react or pray in a given situation; the gift of faith helps us believe in the midst of a culture that does not; the gift of healing demonstrates God’s intense love for us; the gift of miraculous powers demonstrates God’s presence in the world today; the gift of tongues affirms the Holy Spirit’s presence in us individually.     

Peter said, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” (Acts 2:40) Our generation is no less corrupt than the first century.  But experiencing the Holy Spirit and having the gifts of the Holy Spirit at our disposal will help us both overcome and redeem the present generation.   

Have you experienced any of the gifts of the Holy Spirit described in the Bible?