A Journey with ACTS 2:17-21

‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy. And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below—blood and fire and clouds of smoke. The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives. But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

- Acts 2:17-21 NLT

Here we have a passage that many don't look at to deeply. To be honest, to most it would be a bit scary to read through. I know the first time I read it, I was thinking, ‘man this a is pretty rough piece of scripture.’ This was when I was quite young though, I think I’ve learned a few things since that time. :-). This passage still strike a chord with me though. Peter begins his holy spirit filled speak with these words of warning and caution from the old testament prophet, Joel.

Now, the book of Joel is primarily a book that warns about the coming end and this passage is one of those. There are some other passages that have a better tone, but this one in particular speaks of the coming end. Why Peter uses this passage as a starting point in his big debut is something I’ve always wondered about. There is a time to be harsh and a time to be gentle, and I’d like to think this was a time to be gentle, but I guess the spirit lead Peter the other direction.

This passage is a promise from God of his provision, but it is also a promise of his wrath and in these moments, just after the crucifixion, maybe it was a time to be a little of both. That’s what I get out of this passage. Sometimes God has to deal with us in a certain fashion because he knows that is the best way to reach us. Humanity is is a very stubborn creation and we have our strengths and we have our weaknesses. Truthfully, God speaks to us differently in our weakness then he does in our strength.

In this specific scenario, maybe just maybe, the people needed both at the same time and that's why the spirit lead Peter the way he did. In the end, the reminder that ‘everyone who calls upon the Lord will be saved.’

Blessings in Christ and Thanks again for visiting us at "The Gathering Room."

"Times of refreshing come from the presence of the Lord." 45.3.20 M.J. Elliott