Thursday, May 23, 2013
Acts 2:5-6 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.
LIKE A RIVER
So there was a nucleus and a gathering, but that in itself did not mean that the crowd would be interested in hearing about Jesus Christ. God, however, had been at work long before this day, and the crowd was made up of God-fearing Jews from all over the world. It is possible to be devout without being Christian. For one thing, there is a natural religious interest that people have, and the Lord can use that interest to get them to listen to the message of Jesus. There is also a natural knowledge of right and wrong, sinfulness and accountability, and God can use this knowledge to get people to pay attention to the word of forgiveness and peace. But these Jews had even more. They had the prophets of old, who had promised deliverance and salvation.
Besides all this, their interest was sparked on this day by the fact that they understood all the languages that were being spoken by a group of Galileans. What they heard was a recital of the wonderful works of God. It is good for us, also, to thank God for His wonderful creation, for our homes and families, and, as we enjoy another Memorial Holiday, for our country and our government -- for all those servants of our government that died so we might be permitted to gather around God's Word as we have opportunity.
Oh, what blessing to be near You,
And to hearken to Your voice!
May I ever love and fear You
That Your Word may be my choice.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 296:2)
