God's Holy Fire: 'Receive the Spirit'

Thursday, August 27, 2026

Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
— John 20:21-23 NIV

Key Thought

After Jesus' resurrection, he reminds his closest followers of three gifts he is leaving with them, all of which find their origin and functional power in the presence of the Holy Spirit. The gifts are peace through the Spirit's presence, purpose in mission, and power to forgive. As we look at the power of the Holy Spirit, which of these gifts are you not living out in your daily life? Why not take advantage of all three?! Make a specific commitment to live out the Spirit's work in your life by making sure you take advantage of each of these gifts in all that you do!

Today's Prayer

Father, forgive me, and forgive us your people; empower us to be a community of grace where your Spirit brings peace, sends us out on mission, and uses us to bring forgiveness and reconciliation. As we do these things, O God, I know we are living out the life of Jesus in our world. It is in his name that I pray. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

25 Related Resources by Heartlight

I Am Sending You!
Devo: God's Holy Fire
"Again [Jesus] said, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you." Then he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.""
The Spirit Gives Us Power to Forgive
Devo: What Jesus Did!
"Then [Jesus] breathed on [the disciples] and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive..."
From Peace to Passion
Devo: What Jesus Did!
"Again [Jesus] said, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.""
Receive the Breath of Heaven
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Disciple, Mary Magdalene, Peter, John, and a couple of disciples on the road to Emmaus weren't the only ones to meet Me on that first day of My...."
See All 25 Related Resources about John 20:21-23

Illustration

Illustration of John 20:21-23 NIV — "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Thursday, August 27, 2026

What Jesus Did!
A daily guide from the gospels that challenges readers to live for Jesus.
'Bending Reality to Fit Our Theology'
"Then [the people questioning the man who had been healed of his blindness took him] to the Pharisees, because it was on the Sabbath that Jesus had..."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Morning Thought: Psalms 33:21
"Blessed is the fact that Christians can rejoice even in the deepest distress; although trouble may surround them, they still sing; and, like many..."
Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
Jeremiah 17:9-10
"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? "I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to...."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'You Have Rescued Me' (Ps. 54:4,)
"God is my helper. The Lord keeps me alive! ... I will praise your name, O Lord, for it is good. For you have rescued me from my troubles and helped me..."

About This Devotional

God's Holy Fire is a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

More God's Holy Fire

Translations