Love's the Language

First read Acts 2:1-12

Often times, the native language of a person is called their “heart language”. When someone speaks in your heart language, it immediately brings up feelings of familiarity, connection, home, sometimes even relief for you to know that person understands you on a deeper level.  

There are plenty of heart languages spoken around Arua! Kakwa and Juba-Arabic from our Thrive students, Lugbara from our Shine friends and local Ugandans, Urdu from Pakistan. Maybe some Hindi from Indian business owners in town, Arabic from the mosques during their times of prayer, American English from our family mentors and some of the missionary community, British and Australian English from others in our missionary community, Swahili intermingles itself in conversations as well. 

How do we connect with people on a heart level when they speak different languages?!

In Acts, on the day the Holy Spirit arrives in tongues looking like flames of fire, there were men from every nation (at that time) in Jerusalem. Each one heard about the magnificent acts of God being spoken in their own language. Peter gives an incredible sermon to all the people there and by the end of the day 3,000 people were saved. 

That first day of the arrival of the Holy Spirit, God wastes no time in beginning to spread His gospel to all the nations in their own languages.

Being “His voice” to the world can seem like a huge task, maybe even impossible at times, and then the fearful thoughts start coming:

“What if I mess it up?”

“What if I say the wrong thing or do the wrong thing?”

“I should have said this or that.” 

“I thought I could do this, but I don’t think I can.” 

“I don’t even know what to say or how to say it.” 

Thankfully for us, even if we feel like we have messed it up, the Holy Spirit is connecting our words to their heart in ways we cannot see. The Holy Spirit speaks to each individual in the heart language that is familiar to them. We just obey His prompting and guidance. 

Connecting with people starts with love. We open our hearts to others by caring for them, befriending them, sharing life with them. 

We were created for love and to love. Love’s our native tongue.

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Question: What fears might you have concerning the language barriers here?  

Prayer Guide: Talk to God about these fears. Ask for help and wisdom as you speak to and serve others this around you this week. Write out some truths from God’s Word addressing your fears. 

Challenge this week: Look for ways to love others without using words.

Songs of the week:  Native Tongue by Switchfoot 

                                  Breath of God by Shane and Shane

Book Suggestion: Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund

Quote by Ingrid Goff-Maidoff:

"God spoke today in flowers,

and I,

who was waiting on words,

almost missed the conversation."