A Universal Language

Read Acts 2:1-13 - Day of Pentecost

After this I heard the Shouting of a vast crowd in heaven. "Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Salvation is from our God. Honor and authority belong to him alone. Revelation 19:1 (TLB)

Hallelujah is a word used to express praise, joy, or thanks - especially to God. It is a word that doesn't need translation. Christians the world over have taken it into their own languages to express joy and praise.

Funmi Afolabi, from Maryland, once attended a wedding in an Orthodox Ethiopian Church. The service was conducted in the Ethiopian language and was a beautiful celebration. However, all Funmi could understand and respond to was "Hallelujah," since she speaks a different African language and English. So when she heard the priest say, "Hallelujah," and the congregation respond, Funmi also responded with "Hallelujah!"

It is exciting to realize that all God's children are one big family, praising God in unity of spirit. Even though we may speak different languages, God is happy to receive our praises and joyful shouts of "Hallelujah!"

Prayer: We praise you, God, for your faithfulness to us. May we work to count all your children as our family. Hallelujah! In Jesus' name. Amen.