The Devil is a grand magician, and has been from the beginning. His bag of tricks consists of one deceit after another. He is a master of attracting our attention in one direction, while he cleverly moves things around where we’re not looking.

The Devil deceived Eve into thinking she could be like God. However, what he meant was that she would gain the knowledge of evil and die. The Devil didn’t play fair then, and he doesn’t today. That we would continue to fall for his deceptions is an indictment against all of us.

It's not hard to get volunteers for a work project around the church, but when it comes to passing out flyers for the church, or knocking on doors to invite people to church, the response is often non-existent.

Much of the work of God is not overly exhilarating. We are drawn toward exciting adventures, like mission trips, but we have no time for mundane chores like working in children’s Sunday School, or helping in the nursery. Much of what goes on in serving the Lord is not overly exciting; however, when done empowered by the Spirit of God, and for His glory, it can have massive impact.

On the day of Pentecost, the disciples of the Lord were filled the Holy Spirit. One evidence was an ability to speak in foreign languages they had never spoken before. The scene spread through the region quickly, attracting large crowds. People were amazed at what they saw. As the disciples preached the Good News, it came out their mouths in other languages. People from all parts of the world were hearing the glorious Gospel in their native tongues.

It wasn’t long before that ability to speak in foreign languages became desired by all. People focused on the awe-inspiring ability, and increasingly overlooked the message. They were drawn by the tongues, but un-inspired by the truth. Though many Jews came to trust the message of Christ, many remained hardened in their unbelief.

God revealed the purpose for tongues in…

1 Corinthians 14:21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

God purposed to use this miraculous ability to speak in foreign languages as a sign of His impending judgment. In just a few years, God was going to empower the Roman army to invade and conquer Jerusalem, along with its Temple. The hardness of God’s people would soon be judged.

Instead of waiting for some new and shiny thing to come along and entertain us, like tongues did to the Jews, let’s stay faithful to the work to which God has called us; walking faithfully with Him, and sharing His message with the lost.