Boots or no Boots

From "The Word For Today":

Boots or no boots
"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord"
Psalm 150:6 NIV

In pre-Emancipation days it was common practise for white people to occupy the main floor of a church while African-Americans were assigned to the balcony.

Every Sunday a black man called Frank would interrupt the sermon by praising God out loud from the balcony. Irritated, Frank's boss promised him a pair of new boots if he'd stay quiet. So Frank made up his mind not to utter a peep.

The following Sunday the pastor spoke about all the wonderful gifts God gave us through His Son Jesus. Frank struggled to stay quiet, but inside he was shouting, "Hallelujah ...Praise the Lord." Still, he kept his lip buttoned, thinking about the new boots. But eventually the Word of God connected with the Spirit of God that was within him. Unable to contain himself he jumped up and shouted, "Boots or no boots - I'm gonna praise the Lord!"

We sit in church every week with our mouths closed, maintaining a façade of respectability and decorum. Not in the New Testament times!

When Jesus "came near...the whole crowd...began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: [saying] 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord'...the Pharisees...said to Jesus...'rebuke Your disciples!'... He replied, 'if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out'" (Luke 19:37-40 NIV).

Isaiah said, "The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees...will clap their hands" (Isa 55:12 NLT).

Stones! Mountains! Trees! Are you getting the message? God's Word says, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord" (Ps 150:6 NIV).

Unless you're dead, that's what you should be doing!

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