【双语灵修】语言很有趣！LANGUAGES ARE FUN!

使徒行传 2:1-8

五旬节到了，门徒都聚集在一处。忽然，从天上有响声下来，好像一阵大风吹过，充满了他们所坐的屋子；又有舌头如火焰显现出来，分开落在他们各人头上。他们就都被圣灵充满，按着圣灵所赐的口才说起别国的话来。

那时，有虔诚的犹太人从天下各国来，住在耶路撒冷。这声音一响，众人都来聚集，各人听见门徒用众人的乡谈说话，就甚纳闷，都惊讶稀奇说：「看哪，这说话的不都是加利利人吗？我们各人怎么听见他们说我们生来所用的乡谈呢？

「这说话的不都是加利利人吗？ 我们各人怎么听见他们说我们生来所用的乡谈呢？」 -徒 2:7-8

我刚到菲律宾伊洛伊洛市时，曾在一个菲律宾家庭住了几个月。他们有两个女儿，一个5岁，一个6岁，她们都很喜欢我这个大哥哥到她们家。当她们突然走进我的房间和我聊天时，我意识到有必要设立界限。于是，我用伊隆戈语说：「在进入我的房间之前，你们需要先『问』我。」然后，她们就会靠近我的房门，问一些诸如「你有姐妹吗？」和「你在哪里出生的？」之类的问题，然后径直走进来。

我很快意识到，我用错了「问」这个字。原来我用了「提问」这个词，但我应该用「请求允许」这个词。学习一门新语言可真不容易！

因为语言障碍太普遍了，它在不同人群之间的障碍中具象征性。当圣灵浇灌在耶稣的门徒身上时，语言也是第一个被打破的障碍。圣灵使门徒能够用其他语言说话，这样所有从其他国家聚集而来的人，都能用自己的母语听到福音。

在传教史上，这种语言奇迹曾罕见地出现过。但通常情况下，像我这样的宣教士必须花上数月时间去学习当地语言。这可能很难，但也可能很有趣！这也是分享福音的重要桥梁。

祷告

主啊，请帮助正在学习新语言的宣教士。愿我们所有人都能更专注地聆听，更清晰地表达，以克服我们之间的障碍。阿们。

LANGUAGES ARE FUN!

“Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?”                        —Acts 2:7-8

When I arrived in Iloilo City in the Philippines, I lived with a Filipino family for several months. They had two girls, ages 5 and 6, who loved having a kuya (older brother) in their home. When they started unexpectedly entering my room to chat with me, I realized that boundaries were needed. So I said in Ilonggo, “You need to ask first before entering my room.” Then they would approach my door and ask questions like “Do you have any sisters?” and “Where were you born?”—and then they would come right in.

I soon realized that I had used the wrong word for “ask.” I had used the word for “asking a question,” but I should have used the word for “asking permission.” It can be tricky to learn a new language!

Because the language barrier is so common, it’s symbolic of other barriers between people groups. It’s also the first barrier that was broken when the Holy Spirit was poured out on Jesus’ followers. The Spirit enabled the disciples to speak in other languages so that all who had gathered from other nations could hear the good news in their native tongues.

That miracle of language has happened in rare moments in mission history. But normally, missionaries like me have to spend many months learning the local language. It can be hard, but it can also be fun! And it’s a very important bridge for sharing the gospel.

Lord, help missionaries who are learning a new language. And may all of us listen more attentively and speak more clearly to overcome barriers between us. Amen.