1Corinthians 14:7. “And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?”
SOUNDS. Words unknown to men are mysteries, and God knows the heart. Others help, build, encourage, comfort – the sounds bless the souls. Strange noises, no sense made nor reason – except to self. Clear words: teaching, framing thoughts before unformed – the church is helped. Many voices, but one is clear, unmistakable, meeting needs. The one that speaks for the other: understood, explaining, bringing light. Down from God; brought forward from experience; from within by the Spirit – life words Pipes, harps, trumpets: sounds under control, or the point is lost. The tongue can make or break, with sounds controlled or uncontrolled. A reason, there must be a reason for the sound of words spoken out to others. Gifts uplifting the saints; the sound of “Amens” from here and there – it’s good. A voice raised to God who knows all sounds and languages known to men – And yet, what about the rest, the called, the waiting, the ones for whom I speak? The sound of singing, melodious, uninformed, garbled, and missing the unity. Sing, pray, speak with understanding – let the listeners say, “Amen,” when you are done. A short message –five words or a few more; the impact is felt, and action comes. Ten thousand words: all day the sound comes, but no one knows the meaning. Please stop – my thoughts are not what are intended here. It’s babbling words. Make plain to all with sounds and words and expression of voice, truth before unknown. Make light with sounds energized by inward grace and love. Loose the tongues of those who hear from your spoken sounds of truth and life. See knees bent, and faces low as sounds of worship flow as a river at its source. And hear new sounds of gratitude and joy and hope and new life, “God is in you…” The psalms with sounds from God’s own home and Person. The hymns: graceful and grateful words from those who God now knows. The silence was broken by sounds again from God to men, and man to man, to help. And silences from those who face speak but voices stay unheard, until interpreted. And one by one, without the sounds of voices discordant or uninformed. Come, sounds of blessing from those whose right it is, without confusion. And sounds of silence from those whose modesty and ways speak soundless Volumes: not unheard by God, but only by men whose role is different, and with sound. The order of sound and soundlessness speaks clearly to those who hear. With ears and eyes and hearts attuned to sounds from God, we worship, and we serve. With joy, and fellowship, and unity, the order stands, and God speaks!
“O God and Father of order and decency and clear unmistakable sounds: I know the sounds I hear from Thee are not unclear, only when I have other sounds in my ears. I may not know all the words mean or even the intention, but I am certain there will always be a word from the Lord when my ears are opened to hear Thy voice. Amen.”