Daily Devotions
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Acts 2:1-8, 11b, 14a, 16-17a, 21 – When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? … We hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” … But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, … This is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh … And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.’”
It’s kind of fascinating to me to compare what happened at Babel and at Pentecost. At Babel, the people sinned, and so God confused the languages of the people, so they could not live together in unity anymore. As a result, they spread out over the face of the earth.
Now, at Pentecost, God does a miracle so that everyone can understand the message of Jesus, in their own languages. And that message brings them together in a new unity as people who trust in Jesus. Though they come from many nations, they are now one in Jesus, our Savior, who suffered, died, and rose again to bring us all back to God.
But it’s not an exact reversal, is it? Because God doesn’t take away the different languages. No, He leaves those in place—along with the different cultures, countries, and customs that have grown up. Instead, He sends the Holy Spirit to see to it so that Jesus’ message gets through in spite of the differences. And even today, our missionaries learn new languages and cultures so that they can take Jesus’ story to the ends of the earth.
It looks to me like God doesn’t like to waste anything, even if it first came as a result of judgment. The variety of the human race adds to Jesus’ glory on the Last Day. Then all of us who belong to Jesus will be what John described in Revelation: “a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9b-10).
WE PRAY: Lord, let the story of how You saved us go out to every language and people group in the world. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
- Do you like variety? Why or why not?
- Why do you think God doesn’t just give us all one single language again?
- What are the things that all Christians have in common, regardless of language, nation, or background?
Today's Readings:
Psalms 68, 72, 86John 14