When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. – Acts 2:1-4 (NIV)

That must have been an amazing day. The onset of the body of Christ being manifest in His people through the Holy Spirit = amazing!  Communicating the power and glory of the gospel without the barrier of language = amazing!  Being united as one despite immense and historical differences = amazing!  Pentecost was one of the most important days in history and yet I do not live my life with this heritage in mind as often as I should.

Pentecost brought something to all of us who follow Jesus.  The Holy Spirit did not just come upon the apostles that day, but on the church, His body.  Pentecost is for us.  In fact, we cannot do the work of Christ without Pentecost truly taking place in our hearts and minds.  It is the Holy Spirit working in and through us that accomplishes all that needs to be done in this world by His people.  We live in a world after Pentecost.  The Holy Spirit has been sent to bring us fellowship with our creator and with one another, but we put up walls for our convenience and comfort.

I want to live a life without walls, empowered by the Holy Spirit and reflecting the image of Christ.  I don’t want any of my walls to get in the way of that kind of life.  This will not be easy, but why shoot for less?  The walls must come down.  They are built by pride and bolstered by ignorance, constructed brick by brick to create a comfortable box for me to live in.  No more living in a box.

Lord, humble me with Your spirit and break down my walls.  Amen