The promise of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:22-24, 32-33, “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— this Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. And God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.” … “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.”

What a perfect capsule of the good news of Jesus Christ, which Peter caps by telling us that God has made Him “both Lord and Christ.” We look at the life He lived and at the stern requirements of the Law and we are meant to recognize that we can’t do that. And this is the good news, that He has paid the price once and for all that we may be saved by faith through grace, that He will renew our minds, take away our heart of stone and give us a heart of flesh. And the good news continues: we can receive His Holy Spirit, to help us in our time of need!

We need You, O Holy Spirit; renew our minds, change our hearts, make us your instruments to those whom You call to know You!