Fall is in the air here in Atlanta these days. I just love this time of year. The crisp, invigorating air that wakes you up with a thrill every morning; the brightly colored leaves that filter through the air and lay in piles on the ground that are just begging to be jumped in; the jeans and scarves and hats and gloves and jackets that come from hiding in the abyss of closets and are finally able to grace the world with their presence for a few short months. There's something about the coming of fall that just speaks to me - it speaks of life and excitement and anticipation and joy and happiness.
When I was a little kid, I would always read the passage in Luke - the one where Jesus said that if we did not praise Him, then the rocks would do it for us - with a bit of skepticism. I would picture rocks literally singing and dancing and praising Him - a real-life version of VeggieTales, if you will. The almost cartoonish imagery that I saw in my mind made the whole thing seem a bit far-fetched and unbelievable. I didn't understand it, and so I just dismissed it.
But it's mornings like today that give me a better understanding of what Jesus was talking about. Here in Atlanta, there are no rocks literally singing out praises to God. There are no flowers dancing before the Lord. There are no trees lining up and doing high kicks in a neat little row a lá Broadway style. But the earth is declaring His majesty, nonetheless. The brilliant blue sky, the peaceful neighborhood calm that surrounds me, the majestic oak trees in my back yard, the intoxicating smell of lavender and roses and honeysuckle wafting through the air....they all testify to the greatness and creativity of the Lord.
Maybe you don't like autumn like I do. Maybe it doesn't speak to you in the same way that it speaks to me. But the Lord is creative in many areas, not just one. The Lord's grandeur can be manifest in many aspects of life, not just one. It can be seen in the latent power of waves on a beach, or the overpowering grandeur of a snow-covered mountaintop. It can be seen in the musical laughter of a child, or in the incredible precision of a racecar. It can be seen in passion of dance, or in the variety of food. Whatever makes you tick, however God most speaks to your heart, make sure that you look for Him there as you go about your day. Look for His creativity and intimate love, a love that made Him want to create such a diverse and beautiful world for us, His children. And then don't forget to thank Him for it. Don't let the rocks be the only ones praising Him.
Luke 19:37-40
37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
When I was a little kid, I would always read the passage in Luke - the one where Jesus said that if we did not praise Him, then the rocks would do it for us - with a bit of skepticism. I would picture rocks literally singing and dancing and praising Him - a real-life version of VeggieTales, if you will. The almost cartoonish imagery that I saw in my mind made the whole thing seem a bit far-fetched and unbelievable. I didn't understand it, and so I just dismissed it.
But it's mornings like today that give me a better understanding of what Jesus was talking about. Here in Atlanta, there are no rocks literally singing out praises to God. There are no flowers dancing before the Lord. There are no trees lining up and doing high kicks in a neat little row a lá Broadway style. But the earth is declaring His majesty, nonetheless. The brilliant blue sky, the peaceful neighborhood calm that surrounds me, the majestic oak trees in my back yard, the intoxicating smell of lavender and roses and honeysuckle wafting through the air....they all testify to the greatness and creativity of the Lord.
Maybe you don't like autumn like I do. Maybe it doesn't speak to you in the same way that it speaks to me. But the Lord is creative in many areas, not just one. The Lord's grandeur can be manifest in many aspects of life, not just one. It can be seen in the latent power of waves on a beach, or the overpowering grandeur of a snow-covered mountaintop. It can be seen in the musical laughter of a child, or in the incredible precision of a racecar. It can be seen in passion of dance, or in the variety of food. Whatever makes you tick, however God most speaks to your heart, make sure that you look for Him there as you go about your day. Look for His creativity and intimate love, a love that made Him want to create such a diverse and beautiful world for us, His children. And then don't forget to thank Him for it. Don't let the rocks be the only ones praising Him.
Luke 19:37-40
37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
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