Monday, October 1, 2012

Real praise to God

Pam Padgett ... teacher

As Jesus was going to Jerusalem and was at the mount of Olives, He sent two disciples to get a colt.  The disciples found the colt just as Jesus told them ...

Luke 19:28 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem. 29 And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, 30 Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. 31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. 32 And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. 33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? 34 And they said, The Lord hath need of him.

The disciples brought the colt to Jesus, and He went forth on the colt as the multitude of disciples rejoiced and praised God, and said  Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord  ...

Luke 19:35 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. 36 And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. 37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.


But the Pharisees tried to stop these things, saying to Jesus that He should rebuke His disciples.  Jesus did not stop His disciples and, instead, responded to the Pharisees that if the disciples stayed quiet, the stones would cry out immediately. These things were of God. 

Luke 19:39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

While considering what the Pharisees did, I thought of how we praise and glorify God as we obey what we are led by the Holy Spirit to speak and to do.  The devil often brings thoughts trying to stop us from speaking or doing according to the will of God, and we are sometimes ridiculed or rejected by other people.

But as we turn to God with each thought, action, or word brought to stop us from obeying Him, we are given something by the Holy Spirit which overcomes those things, that we may continue in obedience to God, praising and glorifying Him.