The rocks will cry out!

Luke 19: 32-40

Jesus rides along the dusty rode on the back of a colt. He knows that Jerusalem lies ahead of Him, but for now there are people to see and to show concern for. Men, women and children have placed cloaks onto the path as a sign of homage to Him. Many have followed Him down the road and now all of His followers including the disciples, have begun to offer praises and shouts of joyous worship as He strolls by them.  

Imagine the excitement to see the Messiah right in front of you!

What would it be like to have the opportunity to say thank you for the miracles and provision that you witnessed?

"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
   “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

At that moment, some Pharisees demand that Jesus silence the crowd. I love His response! 

I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.

Often people do not understand our need to thank Jesus for all that He has done for us. They may even act like one of the Pharisees, demanding that we quit talking about all of this Jesus stuff!

I can not keep silent about my Jesus!

He laid down His life so that we may live
He conquered the grave and rose again!
He will return on a glorious day!

Blessed are you Jesus! You:

Saved and redeemed me
Gave me a hope and a future
Promised that you will never leave or forsake me
Filled and sealed me with the Holy Spirit
Prepared a place for me.

I can not keep silent!

Don't text "Jesus" in Pakistan

Pakistan has declared that 1600 words are forbidden to be text on cell phones! 

The name of Jesus Christ has also been banned. 

His name is offensive to Islam.

Cell phone companies were told to begin blocking any text message containing outlawed words, including “Satan,” “nude” and “athlete’s foot.” Many of the banned words had sexual connotations.

Pakistan blocked Facebook for two weeks in May 2010,  after a competition was held to draw pictures of the Prophet Mohammed — this is forbidden under Islam. In 2008 YouTube was blocked temporarily because of a similar competition that appeared on the site.

Photo taken by Allison Stuby

I am reminded of Jesus riding into Jerusalem. The people and the disciples praised God for all the miracles that they had seen! They even shouted 

"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord" Luke 19:38

Like in Pakistan, the officials there also tried to silence the peoples praise of Jesus.

Jesus responded, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out!" Luke 19:40

As Jesus looked over Jerusalem He wept for them.  I believe that He weeps for Pakistan as well. 

"If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes." Luke 19:42

Pray with me for the name of Jesus to be lifted high in Pakistan. 

What is holding you back?

What is holding you back?  What is preventing you from moving forward?  What keeps you from.......?

Often we think that it is our circumstances or opportunities or other people.  I believe that we do it to ourselves.

Before you reach out and strangle me- think about the last time you put on a few pounds.  Did the food do it?  Did someone else make you, force you to eat it?  Did the ice cream jump out of the freezer and slide down your throat?  Of course not!  

We make the choice of what we eat and how much.  This morning I was all upset that I had gained a few pounds. My first response was to be mad at all of eating out that I have done recently. 

 Even in the midst of my internal tirade, I realized that I still chose to eat those meals.  I also chose NOT to exercise. 

What is the cause of my weight gain?  Me!

Spiritually we also can hold ourselves back from going deeper with the Lord.  It is as though we have put up a caution tape that we won't allow ourselves to go through. 

We all have things that stop us from intimacy with the Lord.

Whether it is;

anger or answers

fear or failure

laziness or lies

regrets or relationships

sin or shame

He tells us to come to him and he will give us rest.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

Zacchaeus was a Jewish inhabitant of Jericho and its chief tax collector, mentioned in Luke (Luke 19:1-10) watched from a distance and then Jesus invited him into a deeper relationship with him.

Today you can also go deeper. Come down from your hiding place, from watching from afar and cross through the caution tape.  He is waiting for you to let go of what is stopping you and enter into his rest.

If you could take away what keeps you from being closer to the Lord, what would that feel like?  The choice is yours.  Take a step of faith and break through. 

Father, help me to rip away the caution tape and come to you. Remind me of the goodness and comfort of being with you. Thank you for always inviting us to more of yourself. 

Reposted from my previous Blog