We Have it in Us--- Thursday April 8 2010

WE HAVE IT IN US



Thursday, April 8, 2010


Today’s Reading- Acts 2: 1-13

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ 12All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ 13But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’

TODAY’S REFLECTIONS

This is one of the most important texts in scripture for it reminds us that “one size does not fit all”. The miracle of Pentecost is that God reached out, using people as instruments, to communicate the good news of Jesus in a variety of ways. We are reminded today that what will reach and connect with one person will “miss the mark” with another. The key is to take the message of Jesus and find a way to frame it in a way that makes sense for people.



Just consider worship. The high traditional orderly worship will appeal to some whereas to others it will be a turnoff. Contemporary music may inspire and touch many, but others will find it repulsive. Reaching out via the internet will speak to some and others will say “God is not present on the internet.”. The key is that the early church found ways to use the gifts they had to speak to the generations in their midst.

I am mindful of the fact that we need to speak some new languages in the coming days to reach out and share Jesus’ timeless message with this generation. Jesus’ message will not change. The way we frame it may to reach people not yet reached.

If we believe in Pentecost, we believe that we have it “in us” to reach the next generation. Let the spirit take over and enable us to find the words and ways to reach those not yet “of the way.”