Speaking The Language

Acts 2:4 (NLT) reads, “And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.”

As this outpouring occurred, the upper room captivated people from other provinces and nations who had gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost. Verses 7 and 8 (NLT) describe their reaction, “They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages!”
“Speaking in our own native languages.” While this references their native tongues and dialects, I think there is a relevancy for us today. Shouldn't those around us hear us speaking their language?

Shouldn’t we speak the language of the caregiver who is by the bed of an aging parent? How about the language of the business executive who is overwhelmed with the demands of balancing income, expenses, and human resources? Who will speak the language of the teens trying to find themselves in a world constantly telling them who they should be? Or the language of a couple trying to make ends meet, crunched by time expectations from work, children, and church?

I pray my Pentecost experience will speak the language of those I encounter daily.

Duke Stone
After 40 years in full-time ministry, I try to see how the little things in life speak big things about God. This blog is an attempt to share with you the many ways I see the love of God in the ordinary things of life.