Acts 2:1-4 (NIVUK)
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Sometimes Christians talk about ‘The Fall’, the time when humanity fell from grace and their relationship with God. This refers to the story of Adam and Eve in the Bible and their succumbing to temptation, resulting in their disobeying God and being cast from the garden of Eden. Of course, alongside this story, there is another fall story, that of the Tower of Babel, where humanity arrogantly saw themselves equal to God. This didn’t end well, the people were scattered and found themselves talking different languages. Confusion and suspicion has divided us ever since. On the Cross, Jesus opened a way for us to come back into relationship with God, and in the giving of the Holy Spirit, God begins to unite us once more.
Spirit, it is so easy to use words to hurt and divide, sadly it all too often comes naturally to me. Help me to change and instead use words to unite and heal.
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