Today’s Reading: Acts 2:1-36

7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?
Acts 2:7-8

The disciples could hear what was said in their native language.

During seminary, I traveled to Venezuela with a class. We went to support the work of a Methodist seminary there and to learn about the work of local clergy. What I learned was fascinating and the memories I made remain strong in my mind, as does the taste of the local coffee. I have yet to have coffee as good as that!

Language formed a barrier, however. I relied on Henry, the local translator, with great frequency. Except, for one evening. I sat at the sound board, working the equipment as I often did, and suddenly found myself understanding the people praying. They were speaking in Spanish, and I do not speak Spanish, yet I understood their words. I knew their prayers, and I paused my work to join them in prayer, in my native language, English.

Like the disciples here in Acts 2, I could understand. The Holy Spirit empowered me.

The Spirit has a unifying power. Here, in a diverse setting, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell with the disciples, fulfilling Jesus’s promise to always be with them. The Spirit brings these individuals from across the region, speaking different languages and having different customs, into a unity. Through the Spirit, God crosses divisions and brings people together.

The Spirit is powerful. Just as we saw in Tuesday’s Think, Pray, Do, supernatural occurrences still happen, for the Holy Spirit remains among us, dwelling in our souls and leading us forward in mission and ministry.

Think
When have you experienced unity with someone or a group different from you? How was the Holy Spirit present in that moment?

Pray
Pray for the unity and peace of all people’s; a powerful movement of the Holy Spirit.

Do
Volunteer in your community. Find ways to act and work for the unity of all people.

Think, Pray, Do. As we respond in faith to scripture, God moves in power through our minds, hearts, and bodies. We are the people of God. Thanks for reading today. Go in peace. Amen.

Think, Pray, Do devotionals by Ted Goshorn follow the suggested bible reading plan from his website and book, Prayer Changes Us. Find this Bible reading plan at tedgoshorn.org/biblereading. If you have found today’s devotion helpful, don’t forget to subscribe for daily emails at tedgoshorn.org and share with others that we may think, pray, and do faithfully.