Today's Devotional
January 4, 2007
Subject: The More Languages The Better
1 Corinthians 14:5 - "I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying."
New research indicates that children who grow up in multilingual homes, that is homes where more than one language is spoken, acquire a mental dexterity not found in those who grow up with one language. In other words, children seem to be somewhat brighter when learning a diversity of languages as they grow up. That should make sense to believers for reasons other than just the mental dexterity.
The internet and world travel are growing at alarming rates and believers need to engage this diversified international culture. While many in this country push for an English-only society, I think we need more people that are multilingual.
The scriptures indicate that on the day of Pentecost, Peter and the disciples spoke in other languages. This was clearly a move of the Holy Spirit. Today the Spirit moves us to reach out across the world with a message in a language that people can understand. As Paul says in the scripture above, "I would that ye all spake with tongues..." This works for the brain and for "the body."
