UNIVERSAL TRANSLATOR

Acts 2:1-11
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. 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 them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 11 . . . We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!

If you were to rocket off to another galaxy and meet a planet full of tentacled aliens, would you expect them to speak your language? Probably not. So why is it that nearly every time the warp-speeding adventurers on Star Trek meet an alien they start chatting like they grew up together? The instant intergalactic communication is possible because of a device called the universal translator. It interprets languages and allows each alien to understand the other.

In Acts 2, the Holy Spirit enabled the apostles to speak in different languages--which allowed people from all over the known world to hear and understand the message of salvation (vv.8,11).

The Holy Spirit brought people together back then, and He has the power to do that today. He probably won't enable you to learn Swedish or Swahili overnight, but the Spirit can help you to connect with people--other believers and those who still need to hear the life-changing news of Jesus.

But can you and I be part of something as amazing as what happened on Pentecost? After all, Peter and the others led 3,000 people to Jesus that day (v.41). Just remember: Peter and the other apostles weren't perfect. A couple of months before his stunning sermon, Peter had denied he even knew Jesus. The Lord chose people who were just like us to turn the world upside down.

We don't all have to give fiery sermons or speak in other languages to change our world. The Holy Spirit will lead us to tell a friend who's going through hard times that Jesus loves him; to help the elderly couple next door with their yard work; to take a meal to a family who has a new baby. He will move us to tell someone our own story of how Jesus changed our lives.

It doesn't take much to change the world--at least, your little corner of it. And the Holy Spirit is with you to help make it happen. --Tracy Carbaugh

DESTINATION POINTS

* What comes to my mind when I think about the Holy Spirit?
* How would I have reacted if I had been in the crowd on the Day of Pentecost--like those who believed (Acts 2:41), or like those who were cynical? (v.13).
* What can I do today to change my world?

LINKS:
Knowing God Through Acts
Should We Expect More From The Spirit?

bottom line: The Holy Spirit changes us--then our world.

soul journey