“So how’s you’re Spanish?” One of the top questions I am
asked when someone learns I live in Nicaragua. And through God’s grace, I can
finally respond that I can communicate well. I can understand most things that
are said to me, and normally my response is understood too.
However, that doesn’t always mean it is easy, especially in
church. Singing in church is totally relatable! I have the words to read and
study. I know the praises we are devoting to our Father. But the lesson is a
different story. This week I had the privilege of sitting through a Bible class
in English! It was such a blessing. To my ears, my soul and my brain!
When
the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly
there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the
entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared
to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in
Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the
multitude came together, and they were bewildered,
because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and
Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt
and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews
and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we
hear them telling in our own tongues
the mighty works of God.” And all were amazed and perplexed, saying
to one another, “What does this mean?” Acts 2:1-12
Our
preacher was not speaking in tongues, but he was speaking in my first language.
The crowd was amazed, astonished and
bewildered. They understood the apostles without a translator without thinking
hard to recall the meaning of the familiar words. They understood because they
heard their language. I had a small
taste of that amazement this week. It was humbling.
It also causes me to pause reflect on the words I am using, in Spanish and English. Am I using my tongue to declare the “mighty works of God?”
It also causes me to pause reflect on the words I am using, in Spanish and English. Am I using my tongue to declare the “mighty works of God?”
Ladies
and Gentlemen. He has done mighty works! He is the supreme Lord. He has carried
me through a year of triumphs and tragedies. Praying my words tell of his MIGHT
in 2016!
