Monday, January 22, 2018
"Let EVERY-THING That Has Breath Praise the Lord!"
My word for the day is PRAISE: expressing warm approval or admiration of.someone; applaud, pay tribute to, speak highly of".
A few years ago, my grandson, Payton Wallace took this picture of the huge rock formations that surrounded the pond behind my home. I thought about the scripture in Luke 19:40 where Jesus declared to the Pharisees who were complaining about the disciples honoring and praising Him so much, “I tell you if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” It sure seems God PRAISES (expresses approval of) our PRAISES even to the extent that if we don’t PRAISE – then, He Who created the non-breathing things, will put breath in them to PRAISE.
When the Psalmist penned those words in Psalm 150:6 “Let everyTHING that has breath, praise the Lord” – he also meant ALL creatures. No wonder animals of every kind inhabit this earth. God's human-beings' choirs of praise are just not enough to offer adequate praise. Surely God embedded in each of His creatures -- the ability to be PRAISERS. I’m head over heels in love with my grandchildren and their love for God’s creatures. I speak often of my youngest grandson and his love for his animals. Now, my Payton Wallace has created a menagerie of God’s creatures: 4 geckos, salamander fish, praying mantis, plus his Australian Shepherd dog. My Alexia has a hedgehog and a Yorkie dog. My family needs to create an Animal Kingdom!
God created us AND creatures for His divine purposes. The most of which is to offer Him praise and honor. Before there were humans, there were living, breathing creatures to praise the Lord. And then he created man, and God saw that it was good because now all living beings could join in anthems of praise to their creator. And, if those creatures don’t do their "praising" jobs well, like I said earlier, He even declared that the rocks would cry out in praise to Him.
Maybe we shouldn’t discredit the insect, the sparrow, the goats or the dogs. They are here because there just isn’t enough praise being offered up to our God. Perhaps the next time we see a flock of geese or a herd of cattle, we just might imagine them as choirs of praise to our God who is worthy of all praise. "Praise the Lord, you from the earth, you creatures of the sea and all you depths, living creatures and livestock, insects and flying birds..." Psalm 148:7,10
Then there is the absolute PLAN and PURPOSE of God for you and me. He made us for fellowship with Him. He made us to be PRAISERS – and I’m sure He wasn’t just thinking of Himself when He asked us to PRAISE. I’m quite certain, He wants us to be PRAISERS of each other. Giving audible PRAISE to someone for a job well done, for a kindness they did, for the sacrifices that a mom or dad make everyday, for the pastor who gives tirelessly in prayer and study and service, for the mail deliverers, the trash collectors, the store clerk, the child who finished his project, or the janitor at church or building.
"Some Pharisees from the crowd told him, 'Teacher, get your disciples under control!' But He said, 'If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise.'" (Luke 19:37-40). Stones not needed -- Animal Kingdom and Human Kingdom are shouting our praises to God and others!
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