"And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?" - Acts 2:8 NASB
Today is Pentecost (aka Whit Sunday)! Being in a highly multi-cultural environment, we utilized the opportunity to act a little drama in church - getting as many people in the congregation as possible to read simultaneously Acts 2:1-21 in languages other than English. It shed a little light in our hearts on what happened that day when people from 16 different countries were gathered in Jerusalem for the (Jewish) feast of Pentecost and the Holy Spirit showed up in the Upper Room.
One miracle on that day was that everybody gathered could hear the disciples speak in their own native language. No translations or interpretations were necessary. It was direct, clear and undeniable.
Reflecting on the theme of the day, I submit that we will have a stronger impact in our world when we are able to "speak" to people in the language to which they were born. And I am convinced we can do this even without the "big miracle" of speaking in previously unlearned languages. How?
There is a common "language" every human being understands. It's the language of Love. Anybody who has interacted with people of different ethnic or cultural background would have realized that we humans have a lot more in common than what divides us.
Love is one language everyone understands, and love can be demonstrated in so many ways - being courteous and respectful, lending a hand to those in need, respecting people's opinions even when we don't agree with them, not intentionally doing things that will harm people or their environments, apologizing to people when we wrong them, challenging injustice, and a whole lot of big and little actions.
That is why it should be no surprise that the whole commandment is summarized in Love. Elsewhere Jesus said, "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other." (John 13:34-35 MSG)
Today, we celebrate the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon the church. We have been empowered to go into the world and teach all nations what Jesus has commanded; and what He has commanded us is to love the Lord and love people as He has loved us. But this empowerment will not be very useful to the world or even grab their attention unless they can somehow understand us in the language to which they were born.
And that language is Love
Today is Pentecost (aka Whit Sunday)! Being in a highly multi-cultural environment, we utilized the opportunity to act a little drama in church - getting as many people in the congregation as possible to read simultaneously Acts 2:1-21 in languages other than English. It shed a little light in our hearts on what happened that day when people from 16 different countries were gathered in Jerusalem for the (Jewish) feast of Pentecost and the Holy Spirit showed up in the Upper Room.
One miracle on that day was that everybody gathered could hear the disciples speak in their own native language. No translations or interpretations were necessary. It was direct, clear and undeniable.
Reflecting on the theme of the day, I submit that we will have a stronger impact in our world when we are able to "speak" to people in the language to which they were born. And I am convinced we can do this even without the "big miracle" of speaking in previously unlearned languages. How?
There is a common "language" every human being understands. It's the language of Love. Anybody who has interacted with people of different ethnic or cultural background would have realized that we humans have a lot more in common than what divides us.
Love is one language everyone understands, and love can be demonstrated in so many ways - being courteous and respectful, lending a hand to those in need, respecting people's opinions even when we don't agree with them, not intentionally doing things that will harm people or their environments, apologizing to people when we wrong them, challenging injustice, and a whole lot of big and little actions.
That is why it should be no surprise that the whole commandment is summarized in Love. Elsewhere Jesus said, "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other." (John 13:34-35 MSG)
Today, we celebrate the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon the church. We have been empowered to go into the world and teach all nations what Jesus has commanded; and what He has commanded us is to love the Lord and love people as He has loved us. But this empowerment will not be very useful to the world or even grab their attention unless they can somehow understand us in the language to which they were born.
And that language is Love
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