Rocks Won’t Take My Place!

Rocks Won’t Take My Place!

Some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!” Luke 19:39-40

When Jesus, on the back of a colt, rode past the crowd, the disciples broke into enthusiastic shouts of praise. They believed their Messiah deserved a crown, but the crown of thorns that lay ahead was not what they envisioned. Perhaps the disciples did not fully understand the majesty of Jesus, but their unabashed love for him was a balm as he prepared for the events ahead. The Pharisees were embarrassed by this loud display of affection and attempted to quiet the disciples. But Christ rebuked the Pharisees and pointed to the stones on the ground. He announced that even they would burst into cheers if his followers failed to praise him. Can you imagine a rock breaking out in a hymn or song? What if the towering mountains and deep caverns shouted his praises? What if the gravel on the road danced before him? Rocks are versatile, but there is one thing that rocks should never do: they should not take our place in worship, for it is we who were created to praise! Will a rock take your place? Determine today to do your part to worship almighty God!

Prayers:
JESUS, no rock will ever take my place in worship! I thank you for your love for me. I praise you for faith that is real and deep. I praise you for your Holy Spirit and for the Word that teaches me. I will not be quiet and keep my love for you hidden. Just as the disciples called out your name, I will praise you, for I serve an amazing and wonderful Savior.

Quotes:
Prepare the way! A God, a God appears A God, a God! The vocal hills reply, The rocks proclaim th’ approaching Deity Lo, earth receives him from the bending skies!
Alexander Pope (1688–1744)

The One Year Bible Readings for today are: Joshua 19:1–20:9; Luke 19:28-48; Psalm 88:1-18 and Proverbs 13:12-14.