Thursday, March 15, 2012 - Uncaged

But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things He did and the children shouting in the temple courts,

 "Hosanna to the Son of David," 

they were indignant.

"Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked Him.

"Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read,"

'From the lips of children and infants 

You, Lord, have called forth Your praise'?"

And He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

    Julie told me Tuesday night she heard Addy's first sentence.  That sweet baby girl raised her hands over her head and with a twinkle in her eyes she said "Praise Jesus!" (although I imagine it sounded more like "aaaai e-uh"). Before this spectacular moment when I'm sure heaven applauded, Addy had responded to hearing the prompt by raising her hands, but at 10 months, she's adding words.  
     I can hear someone thinking, "She's only parroting what she's heard. She doesn't know what it means.  A parrot can be taught to lift his wings and say those words."  True, but Polly Parrot will never learn to follow up the words with meaningful responses and my sweet granddaughter will.  While Polly's brain only develops to the level of a three-year-old, Addy will pass that level all too quickly and she'll know why she's saying what she's saying and to Whom she's saying it.

    For the first few weeks of my new job, I find I'm parroting what others tell me to say to callers and visitors. It's going to take a while to get a handle on the process and terminology, but eventually these legal phrases and titles and what they mean will be second nature to me. 

    We learn to praise God first with our words, but we live caged lives if we don't pass the parrot and respond from the heart and head.  Jesus said,

"For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." 

Matthew 5:20.  

Repetitious words and superficial actions cage us when Jesus came to free us. Lord, help us spread our wings to respond in true obedience, praise and worship. Don't let our praise stop with words or dutiful obligations. Empower us to praise You with lives broken and spilled out at Your Feet. Make praising You our natural response.

In the Name of Jesus Who praised You perfectly