“Amazed and astonished.”

“Amazed and perplexed.”

That’s how the Spirit moves Dr. Luke to capture in a couple of words the reaction of those who were there on the day the Spirit was poured out (Acts 2:7, 12). The reaction of “Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians” — all devout men dwelling in Jerusalem on that day when the followers of Jesus gave utterance in each one’s own language (Acts 2:8-11). Whatever it was they were experiencing, they knew it was big thing.

Peter tried to explain to them just how big.

This is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
       that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
       and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
              and your young men shall see visions,
              and your old men shall dream dreams;
       even on my male servants and female servants
              in those days I will pour out My Spirit, and they shall prophesy.'”

(Acts 2:16-18 ESV)

Whatever they were experiencing that day, however they tried to process what was happening, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, connects it to an ancient prophet who spoke of the last days. This thing, says Peter, is the ushering in of that thing. So, it’s a big thing.

And, as I’m sitting here this morning thinking about heading into a new year, I’m struck that I’m in the middle of that big thing. I’m living proof of the Spirit poured out in the last days.

Not because I prophesy, see visions, or dream dreams — though I have had a divine thought or two, been impressed on occasion with an unexplainable impression, and seen in my mind’s eye what can only be imagined — but because I’ve known the Spirit bearing witness with my spirit of my adoption as a child of God (Rom. 8:15-16). Because I’ve seen things and understood things in the Scriptures breathed out by God that only can only be seen and understood as the Spirit of God illuminates them (1Cor. 2:10-16). Because I’ve known a power beyond my power — along with a peace that passes understanding — to endure what, for me, would have been naturally beyond endurance.

All this, and more, evidence of the truth that those who are Christ’s have been baptized by the Spirit into the body of Christ (1Cor. 12:12-13) and drink of that Spirit. Evidence of the promise that we have been sealed by the Spirit as a guarantee of what is yet to come (Eph. 1:13-14).

So, entering ’26 I’m reminded this morning that I’m part of something big.

Just how big? Pretty big!

I’m part of the “now but not yet” kingdom — the Kingdom of Heaven ushered in by Christ’s first coming yet to be fully manifested and known at Christ’s second coming. Whatever ’26 might bring, it’s bringing about the kingdom.

So, let’s set our minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth (Col. 3:2).

‘Cause we’re in the middle of a big thing.

By God’s grace. For God’s glory.