Skip to main content

Learning the Language

Dave Branon

As I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. Acts 17:23

I stood before the gathering at a small Jamaican church and said in my best local dialect, “Wah Gwan, Jamaica?” The reaction was better than I expected, as smiles and applause greeted me.


In reality, all I had said was the standard greeting, “What’s going on?” in Patois [pa-twa], but to their ears I was saying, “I care enough to speak your language.” Of course I did not yet know enough Patois to continue, but a door had been opened.


When the apostle Paul stood before the people of Athens, he let them know that he knew their culture. He told them that he had noticed their altar to “an unknown god,” and he quoted one of their poets. Of course, not everyone believed Paul’s message about Jesus’s resurrection, but some said, “We want to hear you again on this subject” (Acts 17:32).


As we interact with others about Jesus and the salvation He offers, the lessons of Scripture show us to invest ourselves in others—to learn their language, as it were—as a way to open the door to telling them the good news (see also 1 Cor. 9:20–23).


As we find out “Wah Gwan?” in others’ lives, it will be easier to share what God has done in ours.


Show us, Lord, what is important to others. Help us to think of their interests first, and allow opportunities to speak about the love of Jesus.


Before you tell others about Christ, let them see how much you care.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Theme

For us in TLF we are going to be focusing on Enterprise aka Labour aka Work for the entire month of June. We are urged to work. If you do not work how would you meet your daily needs? Like food, shelter, clothings and transportation? What about having what to give to others in need? There are so many reasons to work. I know many of us love to do what we love, we do not like to go to work if we do not like the job. But what if what you are doing as work and being paid for is actually what you love? What you love may not turn out to be a source of income, but we must still do what we can to earn. Are you enterprising? Please keep it up. Are you in paid labour in the private or public sector? Please do your work as unto the Lord God. Are you working all by yourself as a self employed worker? Please continue to grow and progress for greatness. Always know that in - Happy moments, praise God.  Difficult moments, seek God.  Quiet moments, worship God.  Painful moments, trust ...

Abortion

A worried woman went to her gynecologist and said: 'Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even 1 year old and I'm pregnant again. I don't want kids so close together.' So the doctor said: 'Ok and what do you want me to do?' ... She said: 'I want you to end my pregnancy, and I'm counting on your help with this.' The doctor thought for a little, and after some silence he said to the lady: 'I think I have a better solution for your problem. It's less dangerous for you too.' She smiled, thinking that the doctor was going to accept her request. Then he continued: 'You see, in order for you not to have to take care of 2 babies at the same time, let's kill the one in your arms. This way, you could rest some before the other one is born. If we're going to kill one of them, it doesn't matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you chose the one in your arms.' The la...

Theme Bible Verses

Deuteonomy 28:12 "The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. Psalm 90:17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. 2 Chronicles 15:7 "But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!" 2 Chronicles 31:21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered. John 4:34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable,...