RINGING OUT

1 Thessalonians 1:8 “The Lord’s message rang out from you – your faith in God has become known everywhere.”

A country preacher visited the mountains and went to see the famous "echo canyon". It had the reputation of being the one place on earth where you got the clearest and truest echo of any words hollered out. The preacher found he was alone, so he hollered "Hello". The canyon echoed back in clarity, "Hello". Again the preacher bellowed, "Goodbye"; the answer resounded in absolute clarity and true pitch, "Goodbye". Looking around to make certain he was alone, the preacher let it all out, "You are the greatest preacher that ever lived!" Then came the answer - "Baloney!"

The message which rang out from Thessalonica was the gospel - the word of the Lord. It rang so clearly, was so evident in their lives, and constantly on their lips, that it was spread throughout the region. There is a good reason why this happened. These people had accepted Christ, and his Holy Spirit impacted them like the key of a typewriter; it so molded them into his image that Paul called them the "prototype" for what a believing church ought to be. When the love of Jesus is first priority, ministry and love will be the reputation of the church.

You see, these people were prepared to speak up. Thessalonica was a port city. That means that all sorts of people came into the area, stayed a short time, and left for another port. The church there never ceased to “be counted” for the gospels sake. And many that left them were on fire for God and on their way to another city. This is how the fire spread, it’s how the message rang out. Their joy in telling what Jesus had done for them thundered out across Europe and Asia too. It is what Jesus told us we would be like when truly indwelt by his Spirit. In Paul’s travels he didn’t need to inform the Philippians or the Colossian church about what was happening in Thessalonica; their reputation beat Paul to every city. These folks had really spoken-out for Jesus.

Their lives had been changed. They had turned from idols and were now serving the true and living God. They were connected to God in a supernatural way. It was this reality that allowed them to touch and change lives. What an opportunity! You and I have that same chance everyday. We can choose to let the message of the Lord ring out from our lips and our lives. We ought to never grow dull in our faith towards God; instead we should be turned towards and dialed in to God.

The news of our faith and the life that we now live should reach out to everyone that knows us and then to everyone that knows them. The next time you find yourself asking, “What can I do?” Remember this – you have something inside of you that others lack and of which some are unaware. Let it ring out, don’t ever hold back. Be a voice of hope and a hand of help. You may never know the extent of the blessing in which you play a part.