The Earth Declares the Glory of God

     In the deep South, our covering of white seldom comes with the snows of winter anymore. Instead, it comes as the Bradford pear trees bud out, covered in blooms of white announcing the arrival of spring. This year it seemed as though all the trees had scheduled a specific time to bloom simultaneously.   We awoke one morning, and the small town in which I live was covered in white. It is a beautiful sight to behold.  Though the drab colors of winter still dominate the landscape, these trees give promise of the new life that is to come when the tender green of the season reappears.

     “Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad; Let the sea roar in all its fullness; Let the field be glad and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the Lord.” (Psalm 96:11-12)  The Bible speaks of the earth rejoicing and praising God.  Surely we will not leave all the work to nature. “For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” (Isaiah 55:12)  In appearance alone, that is what these trees are doing. They are rejoicing and praising God.
     And what of us? Can the same be said?  Maybe today hasn’t been very stellar . Your boss is in a bad mood. Your kids are driving you crazy. The doctor didn’t have the news you had hoped for.  Surely we can wait until things take a turn for the better. The trees can handle it for now. But is that what the Bible tells us?  “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice!”  The singing of  heaven and nature is not enough.  God longs to hear our praise through words, songs, and our everyday lives.  People around us are listening to hear the sweet music of rejoicing so that they might also join in and find joy and peace in their lives even in the toughest of times…always! Yes, the trees rejoice, but God has given us a voice to use in our rejoicing. Let the world hear you use it, see you live it despite your circumstances.
     When the Pharisees called on Jesus to rebuke His disciples, this is what He said. “I tell you that if these (disciples) should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” Surely it will not come to that. Surely we are not so oblivious to what God has done for us through His only Son, Jesus. Surely we are not so distracted by the world  that we blindly overlook His daily blessings starting with the first breath we take each morning. Don’t delay another minute. REJOICE! Join the trees! Don’t leave it up to the rocks! Even on the worst of days there is reason to do so. To God Be the Glory!

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