Break my Heart for What Breaks Yours

Acts 2:1-4 ~ When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. And tongues, like flames of fire that were divided, appeared to them and rested on each one of them. Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit gave them ability for speech.



Today is Pentecost Sunday and in this passage in Acts we see that the disciples are gathered in Jerusalem and united in prayer. The Holy Spirit which had been promised to them came down upon each one. And there were flames of fire resting on each one. They had received the power of the Holy Spirit.



As I read this passage today, this idea of flames brought to mind another picture. The flames of buildings being burned down during rioting. One is produced by the Holy Spirit who endowed the disciples with God’s power to go out and preach the Gospel with boldness. The other is produced by the senseless death of a black man at the hands of those who are supposed to serve and protect. The second is produced by years of pent up anger and frustration caused by injustice in our system.



But there is a second correlation. I wonder if that second image of burning buildings could have been prevented if believers would step up and fan into flame that ember of the Holy Spirit that each of us receive as a deposit at our salvation, so we would be in-tune to the things that God is interested in? What if the things of this world broke our hearts as they break God’s heart?



What if we took seriously the things we are taught in scripture about God loving the whole world, how ALL men are made in the image of God, about God loving justice and mercy? What is we spent more time speaking out against injustices we see in this world instead of ignoring them?



I’m sad this morning.  I’m sad because we as believers are more concerned that our “rights” are being infringed upon by not being able to meet together than being concerned that the rights of others. We are more concerned with ourselves than actually desiring more of God. We spend more time watching the news and scrolling through Facebook then digging into His word, so we know how we are supposed to respond when these things in our world happen.



And I’m sad that as the church we haven’t been bold enough to speak out against what is happening to our African-American brothers and sisters throughout this nation. Why is that? Why don’t we care about those things?



If you notice, after the disciples received the Holy Spirit, they spoke in the language of all the surrounding nations. God loves every nation, every culture, every skin color, every language and because God’s heart is bent that way ours should be too. And if it’s not, it’s time to confess that and repent and ask for God’s forgiveness.



My prayer is that we, as a church, will not let that flame of the Holy Spirit fade away through our indifference, inactivity, silence, and self-centeredness. I want to pray that we would develop the same kind of passion that the disciples had to know more of God. I want to know Christ and make Him known, but it’s not just about my own personal spiritual growth.



I also want my heart to break for the things that break His heart. Because if my heart doesn’t break for these things then I should ask myself, if I’ve allowed that flame of the Holy Spirit to be quenched.