Nuair a thàinig an Spiorad a-nuas

"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place." Acts 2.1

How often we skip over the crucial opening sentence to the account of Pentecost in Acts, chapter 2. Obedient to the command of Jesus at his Ascension, the disciples had gathered in Jerusalem in anticipation of they knew not what... But the crucial thing is that they were obediently waiting on God together.

In all our rushing around, do we create the space ever to wait? With our various agendas how much common cause do we find in our priorities?

Before we rush out and rehearse the wonders of the flames of anointing which descended on that first Pentecost, the outbreak of other languages and Peter's memorable address to the assembled crowds, who had gathered in Jerusalem for the ancient and popular Jewish festival of Shavuot, let's pause a-while...

And in the space, let's recapture the expectation of what God might do next. Let us remember that we are in this together and not on a personal crusade. Surely these were as essential components of the original occasion, preparing those who were to receive God's anointing for fruitful service. Without such shared restraint we shall be rushing on - but in our own strength and therefore ill-equipped for whatever lies ahead.