1 Thessalonians: Echoes

1 Thessalonians 1:8

For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.

Sounded forth: to "echo" forth; broadcast

From you sounded out - As Thessalonica was very conveniently situated for traffic, many merchants from thence traded through Macedonia, Achaia, and different parts of Greece. By these, the fame of the Thessalonians having received the doctrine of the Gospel was doubtless carried far and wide. And it appears that they had walked so conscientiously before God and man, that their friends could speak of them without a blush, and their adversaries could say nothing to their disgrace. Adam Clarke Commentary

What sound does your life create? We all broadcast something. What is it that you believe in, that impacts your life in such a way that it literally echoes from your words, lifestyle, actions, attitude? 

Choose a few people, either people you know or see on TV. Then consider what they broadcast. It may be the truth, or it may be false, but since they believe it, they will echo it loud and clear. The dangers are when we look to people and take what they are broadcasting as truth, without checking the facts. 

What are you broadcasting? The people in Thessalonica broadcasted the truth of God. And their echo was heard far away. If you are not broadcasting God's truth, then changes need to be made. Echoes travel far - make sure your's is based on truth. 

My Praise Songs Echo

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 30. Here is what I learned.

What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit (the grave)? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth and faithfulness to men? Psalm 30:9 (AMP)

I said, “What ·good will it do if I die [profit is there for you in my blood]  or if I go down to ·the grave [corruption; destruction]? Dust cannot [Will the dust…?] ·praise [thank] you; ·it cannot [will it…?] speak about your ·truth [faithfulness]. Psalm 30:9 (EXB)

“I’m no good to You dead! What benefits come from my rotting corpse? My body in the grave will not praise You. No songs will rise up from the dust of my bones. From dust comes no proclamation of Your faithfulness. Psalm 30:9 (VOICE)

“Can you sell me for a profit when I’m dead? auction me off at a cemetery yard sale? When I’m ‘dust to dust’ my songs and stories of you won’t sell. Psalm 30:9 (MSG)

David is pleading his case, that if he dies, he will no longer be around to give praise to God for His faithfulness. 

As I read Psalm 30:9, the first thing that came to my mind, is ”would there be a difference if I die?” Meaning, am I praising God NOW? Am I singing songs of praise to God, so that someone would notice if they stopped? 

Often when we are in a bad situation, we cry out to God and then once the situation turns a good one, we briefly praise God. Then we ignore God until we find ourselves in trouble once again. 

Praising God is to be done continually. It’s not based on what He’d done, but WHO He is. Our circumstance does not alter the fact that God is to be praised. 

Back to Psalm 30:9, if I’m silent now, when I die there will only be continued silence—nothing different. Yet, if I’m busy praising God each and every day, when I die my songs will be silenced, but I think that the sound of my praise songs will linger for a bit. 

To create a positive day, I need to let the sound of my praise songs echo of God’s goodness.

Echo

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 62. Here is what I learned.

God has spoken once, twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God. Psalm 62:11 (AMP)

God has said this once, and I have heard it ·over and over [twice]: God is strong. Psalm 62:11 (EXB)

God said this once and for all; how many times Have I heard it repeated? “Strength comes Straight from God.” Psalm 62:11 (MSG)

"God hath spoken once." So immutable is God that he need not speak twice, as though he had changed; so infallible, that one utterance suffices, for he cannot err; so omnipotent, that his solitary word achieves all his designs. We speak often and say nothing; God speaks once and utters eternal verities. All our speaking may yet end in sound; but he speaks, and it is done; he commands, and it stands fast. "Twice have I heard this." Our meditative soul should hear the echo of God's voice again and again. What he speaks once in revelation, we should be always hearing. Creation and providence are evermore echoing the voice of God; "He that hath hears to hear, let him hear." We have two ears, that we may hear attentively, and the spiritual have inner ears with which they hear indeed. He hears twice in the best sense who hears with his heart as well as his ears. "That power belongeth unto God." He is the source of it, and in him it actually abides. This one voice of God we ought always to hear, so as to be preserved from putting our trust in creatures in whom there can be no power, since all power is in God. What reason for faith is here! It can never be unwise to rest upon the almighty arm. Out of all troubles he can release us, under all burdens sustain us, while men must fail us at the last, and may deceive us even now. May our souls hear the thunder of Jehovah's voice as he claims all power, and henceforth may we wait only upon God! The Treasury of David

Echoes. We like to hear good things over and over. “You look good.” “I love you.” We never tire of hearing praise and thanks. The echoes of God’s truth should be music to our ears, as it provides comfort and assurance. 

The echo of God’s never-ending supply of power and strength should ring loud and clear over and over. And that echo will provide encouragement knowing that God’s strength is exactly what I need to get through my day. 

To create a positive day, I need to listen to the echo of God’s truth ringing loud and clear as I go about my day.