LET US PRAISE GOD FOR JESUS!

(From the author's next Daily Devotional, EVERY DAY WITH JESUS, 

due to be published sometime in 2018.)

        Perhaps you can remember your children playing T-Ball games when they were small. Maybe you even played a game or two yourself. Whoever dreamed up that game was brilliant. Every kid gets a chance at the fun and joy of playing the game.

        In T-Ball, a baseball is placed on a rubber tee about waist high for five- and six year-olds. When the batter is “up” he or she swings the light bat until the ball is hit, and then takes off running around the bases. 

        In a T-Ball game years ago, a little boy hit the ball surprisingly far to the outfield. Even more surprisingly, every player on the field from every position ran out to get the ball! When one of them reached it, there was no one left to throw the ball to – they were all in the outfield! But they all stood together, cheering and jumping up and down that they’d found the ball and could watch the runner rounding the bases.

        Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Christians could have such exuberance together, giving praise to God for Jesus in their worship? Most worship services are quite reserved with those present following whatever comes next in the order of service. At this time of year, however, we are coming to a time of special services when people sing loudly the many verses of their beloved Christmas hymns. 

        How great it would be if we could keep the joy of the season for several months instead of just a week or two. Wouldn’t it be great if the joy of Jesus kept showing itself week after week? During a sermon I preached many years ago, a man said out loud, “Hallelujah! Yes, praise our Lord!” After the service he told me that’s what they say often during worship in his church over in Africa. It was a true expression of his joy! 

        Psalm 100:1 tell us, “Make a joyful noise to the Lord!” I invite all who read this to express your joy in the Christmas and New Year’s season and carry it with you into the weeks and months of the new year. Christ our Savior was born, and now He awaits us to come to Him in heaven!

May we never lose such joy in praise of God for Jesus!

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com