Ephesians 6:19-20 (NIV)
19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984
I've been pondering this simple request for a few weeks now. And I've been wondering about that whole 'being filled with the spirit and speaking in tongues' thing. I wonder if the apostles spoke foreign languages or whether the hearers simply heard a foreign language. Or if the apostles spoke some kind of God-given universal language that everyone could understand because it operated at a totally different level than we are accustomed to.
The reason this has been on my mind is because I'm headed of to a Spanish-speaking country and I don't speak Spanish. I've really been concerned about what kind of witness or evangelist I could be when I don't speak the language of the people I'm around. Sometimes I wonder if I really get it or not. I mean I'm going as a representative of the Almighty God, Creator of the Universe, who numbers the decreasing numbers of hairs on my head as well as the stars in the sky. Why oh why would I be worried about such a small matter as language? I like to believe that God is letting me flex my stupidity so that he can really blow me away when He does what He has planned. Geez, the things I worry about!
So then God sends along this verse, to remind me that I'm focused on the inconsequential and that I'm just a mouth-piece.
The Apostle Paul prayed to receive words that he could 'fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel' and that he 'may declare it fearlessly, as [he] should.' That seems like a much more substantial and far more important prayer than the one I've been praying. And the thing that makes it so much more powerful is that it focuses cleanly on God's will and not on anyone's self. Paul did NOT pray for persuasive words, nor the ability to communicate. He prayed that he could fearlessly proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. I'm giving up my paltry self-centered prayer and adopting this one as my own. I can do that you know because God GAVE IT TO ME.
There is something else that he gave me; common sense. So I've put some of that to use and I've bought a bi-lingual Bible to take with me. Between now and then though I'm studying it instead of my usual Bible. And I'm going to mark out 'la via romana' in preparation. That way, I can be prepared to fearlessly declare "la buena noticia de Jesucristo!"
Okay, so like please, pray for me that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mysteries of the gospel.
Adios,
Carl
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1 comment:
Your concerns ...
"The reason this has been on my mind is because I'm headed of to a Spanish-speaking country and I don't speak Spanish. I've really been concerned about what kind of witness or evangelist I could be when I don't speak the language of the people I'm around. Sometimes I wonder if I really get it or not. I mean I'm going as a representative of the Almighty God, Creator of the Universe, who numbers the decreasing numbers of hairs on my head as well as the stars in the sky. Why oh why would I be worried about such a small matter as language? I like to believe that God is letting me flex my stupidity so that he can really blow me away when He does what He has planned. Geez, the things I worry about!"
Those would likely be my concerns as well if I were over there with you. But I do know that everyone understands a smile; and who doesn't understand the language of service which meets some need? My guess is you'll be seen with the light of Christ shining from y'all collectively and you individually as you simply listen and share your time with the Guatemalans.
Go with God because He is going with you. ... <'BB><
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