Qualifying for Blessing

Great blessings come to people who simply show up and faithfully do what they’ve been asked to do. When we’re where we’re supposed to be, doing what we’re supposed to be doing, some really amazing things happen.

In the New Testament book of Acts we find a great story about a group of folks who showed up at the right place at the right time, and did what they were supposed to do. The result was a life-changing encounter with God.

And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit … — Acts 2:4 (NLT)

This verse describes an amazing event in history. After Jesus’ resurrection and return to heaven, His disciples did what He told them to do. They went to an upper room in Jerusalem, prayed and waited for a promise to be fulfilled. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would be poured out on them in a few days.

120 of Jesus’ followers showed up in a very ordinary room. They simply prayed and waited. They occupied themselves with what Jesus told them to do, believing that when they did what they were instructed to do, Jesus would do what He promised He would do. And it happened. This ordinary room became the venue for an extraordinary experience. Because they showed up, God showed up!

The Bible says that “EVERYONE PRESENT was filled with the Holy Spirit!” The only way you could miss out on this experience was by not being present!

Think about it. The one thing that qualified these believers for this amazing blessing was being where they were supposed to be, doing what they were supposed to be doing! Doing these simple, ordinary things in a very ordinary place led to an extraordinary encounter with God. None of the 120 believers regretted showing up!

God has given all of us a place to show up everyday. All He asks is that we faithfully fulfill the work He has given us to do.

If we’re not careful, we can begin to think that there’s nothing great about our place or glamorous about our assignment. This is one of the most common tricks and traps of the enemy. Don’t let it happen to you. Keep showing up in your ordinary place. Faithfully and joyously do the ordinary work Jesus has given you to do, and be sure of this, extraordinary things will happen in and through your life!

Dale O'Shields

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