“Praise him, young men and women, old people and children. Praise the Lord’s name!
Honor his name forever! His name is greater than any other. He is more glorious than heaven and earth.” (Psalm 37:1-11 The Living Bible)
A very young girl, traveling with her family on a weekend excursion to visit one of the country’s biggest aquariums and zoo, are just riding along and her grandmother turns her phone to the virtual church service being held at the church that they regularly attend. The sound gets the little girl’s attention instantly, and immediately she says, “That’s my church! I got to go to church!” Grandmother had to tell her that they could not go right now. This little one, she really loves church, brings her smiles, hugs, tambourine and praising the Lord excitement, seen by others in the pews. She was not kidding about having to get to church. She loves her church.
She is not the only one who loves church. Yesterday, following service, we had some cake and sherbert floats in our education center to honor the only person older than me in our church who was finally retiring. I won’t give her age, but her years are far, far past the time people retire. The Lord has blessed her with the length of years and great health. She loves to hear hymns every now and then, and the fifth Sunday we always sing as a congregation from the hymnals. Coincidence or providence? You tell me.
At the “surprise” reception in the education center, she asked if she could say something. “Of course,” everyone said in harmony. As she spoke, she said that of all the churches she has been to in her long life, this church was the best church she had ever attended in her life. She too loves her church.
Just as a side note, the pew where she normally sits makes me remember when all families sat in the same pew. At times her daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter sit on the same pew praising the Lord. Four generations on one pew. Isn’t that a beautiful picture and doesn’t that serve as an unspoken lesson about church being for every generation?
When it comes to attending church, it not just for the young or those who have been blessed to see many years pass. It is for all. Age ain’t nothing but a number.
And hear ye this! When it comes to praising the Lord, we see by the example of the little girl and the sister in the Lord with length of years, age ain’t nothing but a number.
It’s Wednesday, the day before the July 4th holiday. There will be a lot of noise on that day. But why wait until the sun goes down tomorrow when you can make some noise this very moment, rain or shine, praising the Lord! When it comes to praising the Lord for all He has done, age ain’t nothing but a number. So what are you waiting for, my friend! Praise God right now! Be blessed!
“Everything that breathes, praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:6 Easy-to Read Version)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King