Acts 2:5-12 (NIVUK)
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?’
The Spirit is in the communication business. This passage makes me wonder about the different ‘languages’ spoken around us today, and I don’t just mean French, German, Polish etc. but also the different ‘languages’ spoken by different generations and cultures and groups. I’m increasingly aware that I don’t speak the same ‘language’ as teenagers anymore, nor do I speak the same language as those who are into Love Island, or frequent posh hotels, or who are into rugby. Just as well the Spirit is there to help me build bridges across these divides.
Jesus took on human flesh to help us understand God. Spirit, help me to speak in the ‘languages’ of those around me, so that I can help them do the same.
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