What Are You Saying?

The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the
Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:14

My friend - “I have to buy a costume before I come.”

Me - “Why do you need a costume?”

My friend - “So we can swim. Oh yeah! You call it a bathing suit!”

So go many of my conversations with my dear friend from England. I have spoken and understood English all my life, or so I thought until I met her. I have enjoyed learning a whole new vocabulary.

My friend drinks fizzy drinks (sodas) and wears wellies (rainboots). Her head is banging when she has a bad headache. A pharmacist is a chemist. A rota is a work schedule.

Although we are both speak English, we sometimes encounter language barriers. On occasion one of us may be speaking while the other is listening, but that doesn’t always mean we are communicating.

Something similar happens when believers speak about spiritual things with unbelievers. We may sincerely wish to share some spiritual experience or teaching with a person but he or she has no idea what we are trying to communicate. In fact, 1 Corinthians 2:14 says he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

When sharing the truth, we are admonished to do so with gentleness, respect and love (1 Peter 3:15, Ephesians 4:15). Love manifests itself in patience and kindness, not in rudeness and anger (1 Corinthians 13:4,5). The Holy Spirit allow both of us the grace to understand each other. Because my friend and I love and care about each other, we are happy to keep trying until we gain an understanding.

We can have fun, too. I want to see My friend’s reaction when I tell her we are having biscuits and flapjacks for breakfast when she visits! (cookies and oat cakes)

Holy Spirit, give me gentle and loving words to share to replace my rude and angry ones. 

Terri