Acts 2:5-12
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
What does this mean? What a great question! What does it mean? This astonishing list of places and people tells me that God has no limits to his heart and mission, he longs for all people from around the whole globe to be part of his family, regardless of their background, colour, faith, age, employment, class, interests or personality. What a generous openhearted God we have! It raises another question for us, though, what does it mean that the God who sends us out in his name has such a broad and open heart?
Father, help us to embrace all and to open our eyes beyond our own small horizons to see the people and opportunities beyond.
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