Soul Snack 8/176 ... Praise Central
Directness was an unwelcome and troublesome quality Jesus exhibited with a predictable consistency across His ministry.He (Jesus) went in and said to them, "Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him.
After he put them all out, he took the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. Mark 5:39-40
Not on a resuscitation mission but rather a resurrection mission, Jesus would not be hindered.
These people scoffed at a saviour (He removes scoffers from His presence) and intimidated His intentions. He had life in His heart, they had death in their mouths.
Life lived around doomsayers, the uncooperative and fear mongers, is a life truncated. It is a life robbed. It is a life constrained and progress restrained. This is not life to the full.
A perfectly wise God knows well it is too difficult to function when surrounded by a culture of criticism. Jesus removes the criticizers.
This supernatural sage surrounds Himself with praise.
Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads ... In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back...Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." Rev 4:4-8
I may not be able to always surround myself with people of praise, but I can sure immerse myself in Him. For, in His presence there is only praise.