If the Trumpet Makes an Unclear Sound

Did you know that bugle calls are sometimes used for giving commands to large formations of soldiers?  Rather than have the adjutant or commander of troops yell out the command, a simple bugle call suffices.  But if the bugler accidently sounds the wrong tone or series of notes, the formation will be in trouble.  They might present arms (salute) instead of coming to attention, or go to parade rest instead of making a facing movement.  

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Meditation
1 Corinthians 14:8—In fact, if the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle?
 
Communication is extremely important isn’t it?  Just the wrong tone of voice can cause people to be offended, confused or to make an incorrect assumption.  Have you ever had someone ask you a question when you were concentrating on something and you gave a curt answer and they thought you were irritated?  Or have you ever tried to converse with a coworker while simultaneously texting?  That can lead to all kinds of problems.  

When we engage in conversation we owe it to the other party to give our undivided attention.  This is not just good manners, it makes for much better understanding.  So put the cell phone away and focus your eyes and ears on the one to whom you are communicating.  If the television is on or, you are watching a video on your laptop, push the pause button when someone asks you a question or makes a statement.  Be sure you heard them.  

If the trumpet makes an unclear sound, the army is unsure what to do.   If our words, tone and body language are not precise we may cause harm instead of good.  Paul taught the Colossians “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Col. 4:6-NIV).  The context of his words concern evangelismbut they also make sense for our everyday speech.  For our dialogues to be effective we need to infuse grace—the effort that values the other person, that esteems the right sound and content, and that leads to the intended God-glorifying result.  
 
Inspiration
Communicating isn’t the objective in business or life.  The objective is understanding. Communication is simply the tool to accomplish that.—Mark Sanborn in You Don’t Need a Title to be a Leader
 
©2019 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)