October 28

Read: Joel 2:27-29

I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and… your young men shall see visions (Joel 2:28).

Young Men Shall See Visions

It does not take a special baptism with the Holy Spirit to make young men see visions. What then is this promise for the days of our youth?

All young people dream dreams of tomorrow but it takes the gift of the Holy Spirit to put God into those dreams. A young businessman naturally Sees visions of wealth; but when the Holy Spirit comes to him, he begins to see how his money can be put to work for the Kingdom. A young mother sees visions of her children as successful and prosperous; the Holy Spirit enlarges the vision until she sees her children as followers of Christ — and she sets to work to make that vision become real:

To have these Spirit-given visions is to see clearly and to know surely the will of God for our lives. Adam Clarke says that those who see these visions “have true representations of divine things made upon their [minds] by the power Of God.” Does the Holy Spirit, then, give us specific and dependable direction in our daily decisions? Yes: In every choice of right and wrong He makes clear what we are to do. And often in decisions of less direct moral quality we may have sure guidance.

There is an inner Voice that speaks clearly to every man who is completely ready to listen. There is inner vision that is clear and convincing to all who are ready to see. When this vision of God’s will is given, it is as convincing as any information that comes through the senses. It is a ministry of the Holy Spirit. Once we have known the wonder of this guidance we pray often with the Psalmist: “Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path” (Psalms 27:11).