A Voice You Can Understand

Acts 2:1-4

2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested[a] on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Many years ago I visited the Lutheran Church in Siberia.  They joyfully and faithfully shared the Gospel.  It wasn’t easy work then, and it isn’t easy now.  But, I can’t remember hearing them complain.  They talked frankly about the challenges, but without complaint.  This impressed me.

One Sunday I was able to visit when they had their church service.  The service was a regular divine service with holy communion.  The liturgy is the same as most Christians use around the world.  In fact, because it was a Lutheran Church, the liturgy was familiar, indeed!  Even though the entire service was spoken in Russian, I could understand what they were saying because I knew where we were in the liturgy.  

When it came to the sermon, I planned to think about the scriptures noted in the bulletin and pray.  To my surprise, they had already made arrangements for me.  As the pastor was preaching in Russian, I could hear the sermon being spoken in English by a person who had moved close behind me.  That person continued to translate the sermon for me, so that I could hear a voice that I could understand.  

Every Pentecost I remember this experience and the wonderful Russian Lutherans whom God the Holy Spirit used on that Sunday to preach God’s Word to me in my own language.  As the Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to speak in other languages long ago, He still speaks through believers today so that all may hear the Good News of Salvation through faith in Jesus.

Jesus came into this world to save humanity through His death on the cross and resurrection.  This is the Gospel spoken around the world.  The familiar voices from whom you hear this Gospel may be pastors, laypeople,  Bible Translators, or electronic media.  The reach of the Gospel on Pentecost was to the many visitors from around the world who were in Jerusalem.  Many of them believed.  And through them and the apostles witness then, God continues to reach out to all nations today.

Therefore, we give thanks when we hear a voice we can understand.  For, when that voice is heard, we know that God the Holy Spirit is caring for us by sharing the Words of Jesus that give eternal life.

Let Us Pray

Help me, O Holy Spirit, to recognize your presence as I hear the familiar voices you have placed in my life to speak the Gospel to me.  Be with parents who teach in their homes, all teachers and especially those who care for children in Sunday school, and pastors as they teach in my church.  I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.