Praise Him Today!

Luke 19:40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”

Jesus was coming into Jerusalem on his triumphal entry, riding in as a king, yet in the humility as a sacrifice. He was entering to the praise of the ones who would only a few short days later call for his execution. He wept for their hard hearts as he entered the city. His disciples, maybe even wrapped up in the moment of seemingly victory, began to praise his name loudly as he came down into town. The crowd quickly grew, both those that wanted to praise Him, and those prideful Pharisees that wanted him dead. They began to try and silence the crowd; they demanded that Jesus tell them to shut up, but Jesus told them all of creation was designed to praise him in this passage above. “This was, in effect, literally fulfilled, when, upon men’s reviling Christ upon the cross, instead of praising him, and his own disciples’ sinking into a profound silence, the earth did quake and the rocks rent.” (Matthew 27:51)

You know how a new Christian is sometimes called “on fire” for Jesus? They have experienced him so personally in forgiveness, in his grace, and mercy for seeing their life before, just covered by His blood for them on the cross. They have such a desire to share their testimony and faith with others, they simply cannot contain it; no matter who hears, who cares not, they will boldly proclaim their faith. Sadly if they do not become rooted in daily prayer and his Word, the old devil will dim their fire, and the world will regain their focus and attention of what has no matter. They will be the people that Jesus talks about in the parable of the soils (Matthew 13:1-23) 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Did they loose their salvation; did they ever have it? Only Jesus knows the answer to those questions, but we are clearly called to produce fruit as a disciple of his, and a heart that remains on fire for him and lives as a disciple will produce heavenly fruit that is a sweet aroma to God. They live their lives in praise of the One who gave them eternal life.

This world is like I have never seen in my lifetime, rebelling against God. The evil of the world is peaking, which means Satan is that much closer to his final defeat when Jesus returns soon. Being a Christian means you are now an outsider, you are going against the cares of the world, seeing the world for the sin-filled state it is, and proclaiming repentance and praising Jesus. You are boldly living by the Truth found in the Bible, when society says their is no absolutes. You are standing for your faith, when it may costs you friends and family. Will you sing our praises to Jesus? Will you be his light at work or school today? Will they see something in you that makes you different? Those questions in their hearts, may become openly asked when they are obedient to the tugs He is placing there; all because you are praising him today. Be bold, be obedient, be a positive Christian in a negative world and let Jesus use you today to draw others to him.