Lighting Up Our City Video 2: Avoiding Insider LanguageSample

When I was in high school, I took foreign language studies in addition to the usual core curriculum. While I developed a decent vocabulary in French, the language never flowed naturally. I was always mentally translating what I heard and said into English first, then into French. The reason was simple. French was not the language of my thoughts—it wasn’t my “heart language.”

I wonder what it must have been like for the thousands of pilgrims in Jerusalem after Christ’s resurrection. They were there to celebrate the Feast of Weeks, one of three annual feasts Hebrew men were required to celebrate in Jerusalem. And yet, regardless of their various, far-flung homelands, each one heard the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ spoken in their heart language.

Isn’t it wonderful that our heavenly Father speaks to each one of us in a language that touches our hearts? He wants us to communicate with each other in the same way. We don’t have to impress others with our knowledge of deep spiritual truths and fancy theological words. The early followers of Christ didn’t have degrees or diplomas. They just spoke from the heart and allowed the Holy Spirit to carry their words to the hearts of others.

Have you been reluctant to share the gospel because you don’t feel qualified? Just share what you know, and allow the Holy Spirit to use your words to touch others with the saving message of His love and grace.

By Ava Pennington