Did you know that language dramatically affects the way we think? This was brought to our attention recently in a language lesson. We were learning the words for tomorrow, yesterday, next week, next month, next year, etc. Our teacher told us that krowy, the word for next, actually means “back” or “behind.” But how can something that is behind be next? Our teacher answered with a demonstration. He had us stand in a line—me in front, he in the middle, and Ruby in the back. Then he said, “If we are in line at a café, and Adam gets his food, who is next? Me. And where am I standing? Behind Adam. After I get my food, who is next? Ruby. She is standing next in line behind me.” Wow! It makes perfect sense, doesn’t it? We had been unable to grasp this way of thinking because of how our native language had shaped our understanding.

As disciples of Jesus and missionaries for Him, we want to be released from the bondage of our tunnel vision so that our understanding of truth will be clear as we share the Gospel with the Great River People. The only One who can take our spiritual blinders off is Jesus, as He did for His disciples. “They could not see their way clearly. The influence of their early training, the teaching of the rabbis, the power of tradition, still intercepted their view of truth” (The Desire of Ages, p. 412). “He had set before them the truths of scripture . . . and in a great measure . . . had set them free from . . . their bondage to tradition” (Ibid, p. 349.)

• Twitter