God's Trumpeters

God's TrumpetersReader: Jon WatsonDate: 28th November 2022Passage: 1 Thessalonians 1:8-------------------Trumpeters often have to play an important part on big occasions — maybe when the Queen appears in her state robes and with her crown. They also play an important role in the army when the soldiers are on parade and often when the troops went into battle. The Old Testament mentions trumpeters very often - they were the 'alarm bells' in cities if there was a threat from enemies. They also called men to arms to go and fight. One of the reasons trumpets were, and are, important is that they give a clear sound which can travel well. That, I think, is the reason the Apostle Paul used the trumpet sound when he wrote that the Christian life of the believers in Thessalonica was so true to Christ that people could really 'hear it' and 'see it'. These were genuine Christian folk. And the 'sound' of their Christian reputation travelled widely. What a wonderful testimony to have! And what a challenge to us if we say that we are Christians. Do people really 'hear' Jesus living in us through the words we speak and the way we act? Let's think about that.PrayerDear Lord, too often I fail to live up to what I should be as a Christian. Forgive me and make me strong to be a trumpeter for Jesus. Amen.