(1 Corinthians 14:8 NLT) And if the bugler doesn't sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle?
There are a lot of buglers today and the vast majority of those are unclear though the original message may be meant for good it becomes convoluted with branches leading to nowhere, only to confuse the hearer. As a result what we end up with is system overload because all the buglers are sounding at the same time from all different origins with no clear direction. 1 Corinthians 14 Paul is talking to the church about the spiritual gifts. It seemed the Corinthians desired to have the gift of speaking in a heavenly language over other gifts but Paul tells them this…
(1 Corinthians 14:18-19 NLT) I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.
Paul’s point is understood, if someone prays in tongues that person’s spirit is strengthened but when someone prophecies he strengthens the entire church. But today this spoke to me differently, many times when a believer is led to share God’s Word with someone other things get mixed in with the message God intended for the listener to hear. Now I understand we each add flavor according to our own understanding and our own stories and that is good for we become witnesses to God’s deliverance in our own lives but the messenger also needs to understand they are simply the vessel God chose to deliver His message and sometimes it’s not about the delivery of the message but the message itself. Simply put be mindful of what God is doing through you as you speak and do not add or take away from His purpose.
(Psalms 5:7-8 NLT) Because of Your unfailing love, I can enter Your house; I will worship at Your Temple with deepest awe. Lead me in the right path, O LORD, or my enemies will conquer me. Make Your way plain for me to follow.
Lord, help my ears to hear you clearly. Strip away the sounds of the world, wash me so I may enter your courts with praise and thanksgiving and then prepare me for the things You would have me do and say today. Help my tongue and lips to say no more and no less than what You have prepared for those I come in contact with. In Jesus’ name, amen.
