Today’s devotion is based off of week 4 of Unlikely Heroes: A Translator (WATCH HERE)
The fact that you are reading this devotion means one thing: You understand the English language.
This may be a simple statement and reality, but if you didn’t understand English, you either would be really challenged to read this or just give up and wish you had something to read in your native language.
To miss a daily devotion or a conversation with a stranger because of a language barrier isn’t that big of a deal. However, to miss out on the single most important message the world has ever known is a big deal.
But we may have never considered what it takes to overcome the language barrier to bring the message of Jesus to people groups that don’t have any portion of the Bible in their own native language.
With over 7000 languages in the world and only 750 of those languages having a Bible in their language, there is much to do to bring the message of Jesus to the world.
Yesterday at Crosspoint, we had Dr. Chris Pluger and his wife Janine share the work they are doing in Ethiopia to bring the Bible to 20 new languages in that country. While mission work is not foreign to us, this type of mission work is not one you usually think of.
At Pentecost, here’s the miracle that God’s Spirit worked:5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,[b] 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
What takes translators today years to accomplish, God accomplished in the miracle of translation given to the disciples. Without any training in foreign languages, the disciples were able to communicate the wonders of God in the native tongue of those that were there.
While it takes much longer, the hand of God is still at work in people like the Plugers and those with whom they work to bring the wonderful Word of God into the native tongue of the people who don’t yet have access to the Bible in the language they speak.
Why do the Plugers and others part of Lutheran Bible Translators do this? Why might I encourage you to consider supporting their work with a monthly financial gift of $25/month?
Because, like at Pentecost, the truth is this: (Acts 2:21) And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ So many more might be saved, the work of translators brings the name of the Lord and the Word of the Lord to souls that need him.
Apply: Take time to listen to this week’s message. Go to https://lbt.org/missionary/dr-chris-and-janine-pluger/ to read more about the Plugers and give a gift as the Lord moves you to do so.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for people like Dr. Chris and Janine Pluger who are using their God-given gifts to bring your Word to people in their native tongue. Grant them safety and blessing as they do the great work of translating your Word! AMEN.