A Trumpet

Building One Another Vol. 10 No. 9

Dear Friend, The Apostle Paul said these amazing words about those in the town of Thessalonica:  “The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it.” I Thessalonians 1:8* This is quite remarkable for a couple of reasons.  First, when Paul says, “The Lord’s message rang out from you,” he uses a very special word for “rang out,” a word that means to sound forth like a trumpet blast or a thunderclap.  The vibrant faith of the Thessalonian Christians spread like a thunderclap, whoomp, throughout Greece. The impact of their Christian lives was so great, the wonderful way they lived like Jesus and spoke about Jesus did not turn people off, it turned them on to the reality of Jesus.  Their encounter with Jesus was so alive that others took notice and were very interested. Ask yourself, “Is my Christian life a trumpet blast or a whisper?” Remember, trumpet blast didn’t mean pushy, overbearing, and religiously offensive.  It meant wonderful, noticeable, attractive.  It was the fulfillment of the words of Jesus, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 Second, Paul said, “Your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it.”  The Thessalonians were so effective in sharing their encounter with Jesus with their families, friends and co-workers that Paul had no need to come and do it. That would be like Billy Graham saying, “I have no need to come where you live. It would be a waste of my time because the Christians where you live have been so winsome, so verbal, so attractive in the living of their faith in Jesus, in their talking about their Lord in Jesus that I have no need to say anything.” May that trumpet sound out through you!

With joy - E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2011 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NIV