Noticeable Accent

We are able to hid our religious beliefs if we want to.  Imagine if our accent gave away that we were Christians!

Matthew 26.69-75

Reference:  v.73  After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.” (NIV Bible)

Explore:  Australia is a very big country, but the majority of people speak English.  Those who can not speak English would have been born in another country.  That being said, we are a very multicultural country therefore there are many different accents all over Australia.  You can often tell by someone’s accent what their background is.  If your family was from Holland you can speak English well but there is still a Dutch accent in your English diction.  If your family is from Malaysia there will still be a Malaysian accent in your English.  While people may not be able to detect exactly where you are from they will be able to pick up that you have known more than just the Australian culture.
When Peter had followed Jesus into the courtyard there were people who recognised him as a disciple.  They recognised him by sight and by his accent.  Although he denied it, his voice had given him away.

Application:  Imagine if our accent gave away that we were Christians!  We are able to hid our religious beliefs if we want to.  We can wear the same clothes as everyone else, we can work the same jobs and speak the same language.  In a line up, no one would be able to tell any difference.  However, our faith should be so important to us that no matter what we say or do people will be able to tell that we love God.  If we love God and love others as the Bible demands then we will look different, we will sound different.  That way, people will know we are Christians.  The way we love is our ‘accent’.  It shows people not just our past but also our future.  What does your ‘accent’ sound like?

Prayer:  Lord, everything you did and said cried out your love for God.  May our lives sound the same as yours.  Amen.

In what ways does your ‘accent’ come across?  Have you noticed someone else’s ‘accent’?

Matthew