WHEN IS IT TIME TO SHOUT?

Then He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand."  And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other.  Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.  (Matthew 12: 13, 14)

This week I had the honor and pleasure to give a graduation speech at one of the High School ceremonies.  The young people who were graduating were in Cap and Gown and were very attentive and mannerable throughout my presentation.  They remained calm and reserved until the Principal. bestowed their certificates on them and were officially declared graduates.  At that moment, loud shouts came from them and their family and friends that were in attendance.  But of course their shouts were in order at that time.  They deserved the right to shout for what they had accomplished.

In the passage above, Jesus has just healed a man who had a withered hand.  However the Pharisees were not pleased because Jesus healed on the Sabbath.  They wanted to destroy Him even though something wonderful had just happened.

  I am amazed that there are still some people who do not know when it is time to shout.  When we see God's hand work marvelous changes in a life we should all want to shout.  When we see a sinner, come to Jesus for the first time, we should all want to shout.  When we see someone who has been sick for a long time receive their good health again, we should all want to shout.  When the Holy Spirit moves in a church service on the congregation we should all want to shout. 

God is always blessing us in so many ways.  Yet we sometimes take his blessings for granted.  We have pity parties when we should be shouting for joy.  No matter what we are facing, God is still with us and will take care of us.  He is concerned about us and will do whatever is needed to let us know that He loves us.  We should never take His love nor His blessings for granted. The next time that you see the handiwork of God in action, shout for Jesus! 

When is it time to shout?  Whenever you think about the Lord's goodness!  Hallelujah!