Psalm 99:1-3
God rules. On your toes, everybody!
He rules from his angel throne—take notice!
God looms majestic in Zion,
He towers in splendor over all the big names.
Great and terrible your beauty: let everyone praise you!
Holy. Yes, holy.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugeterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO.
All rights reserved.
When we were looking through things at my Mother’s, we found a little “Tell-a-Tales" book that had belonged to my maternal grandmother. She read it to my sister, brother and me when we were children. The book…Little Black Sambo. Today, I read this book to Nathan before his nap.
Some
of you may think I am politically incorrect to share this book with our
little ones. But let me remind you of the story, if you don’t remember
it or have never heard it. Little Black Sambo’s parents are Black
Jumbo (the father) and Black Mumbo (the mother). Black Jumbo goes to
the bazaar and buys a suit of clothing for Little Black Sambo…a jacket,
pants, shoes, and a parasol (umbrella). Remember, this book was written
in 1899!
Little Black Sambo feels truly fine and regal in his
new clothes. But as he goes through the jungle, he encounters
tigers…and one by one, they strip him of his clothing under the threat
of “eating him up!” Little Black Sambo convinces the evil tigers to
take his articles of clothing instead…and each tiger declares himself to
be “the grandest tiger in the jungle.”
Ultimately, the tigers
meet up and get into a fight over who truly is the grandest. They grab
each other by the tail and begin to chase themselves around a tree -
until there is nothing left but a big puddle of pure butter. Black
Jumbo happens along and discovers the butter and takes it home to his
family. Black Mumbo makes pancakes for the family and fries them in the
butter. And Little Black Sambo gathers up his clothing and returns
home to enjoy his pancakes.
I cannot tell you how many times we
read this story when I was a child. And the lesson we learned was not
to think more highly of ourselves than we ought…that we are not “all
that and a bag of chips”…and that “things” do not make you grand or
powerful – and thinking otherwise can get you into a lot of trouble!
A
lot of people have gotten into a battle with each other and are chasing
around and around a palm tree (metaphorically) in competition for the
title of “Most Powerful” or “Grandest in the Jungle!” And as you can
see from this children’s story, the end result is often anything but
what these “tigers” expected!
In my mind, we should be like
“Little Black Sambo”…going about our business…serving God…respecting His
authority and supremacy…and refusing to buy into the tricks of the
“tigers” in our lives. Better to give them our shirt or shoes than to
risk either becoming like them – or being swallowed up by them. These
agents of the devil hold no true power, if we stay focused on God.
Their names will never be as big as His…or as brightly spotlighted.
They can put on fancy shoes or a beautifully tailored jacket and pretend
to be majestic or persuasive. But those who trust in God and listen for
His voice know Who is really in charge!
My question today is
this…”Who are you chasing…God or the devil’s ‘tigers’?” Have you bought
into their lies and joined the pack that chases its tails in vain?
Aren’t you ready to step back and regroup – to shift your focus to the
One who deserves to be honored and glorified? Make this the day that
you step up on your toes and shout to the Heavens, “God is my King…let
everyone praise Him! Holy, yes, HOLY! Amen and AMEN!” Let this be
your battle cry - and your defining statement…forever and always.
©2016 Debbie Robus
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