Devotional

Palm Tree Praise – Dr. Tim Hill

Dr. Tim Hill -Singer - Songwriter - Author - Director of Church of God World Missions
Dr. Tim Hill -Singer – Songwriter – Author – Director of Church of God World Missions

Reaching for the palm branches, the citizens of the city knew that this gesture spoke of the depth of their praise and the stamina of their love.

The root system of the palm tree will wind itself as far underground as the trunk of the tree that can be seen above ground. No other branch from any other kind of tree could exemplify the depth of what they were feeling. Some of these people had been in the very pit of degradation when Jesus found them. Some possibly had been sentenced to death until He entered the scene. There was a “depth” to their worship because of all He had done for them.

Never let anybody criticize your praise if they don’t know how deep it runs. If they were not standing close to see what God brought you out of, or if they don’t know the circumstance He rescued you from, then they have no right to judge your praise. Simon the Pharisee found fault with the worship of the woman who anointed Jesus with her tears, but he didn’t have a clue how deep her love ran for the man who had delivered her from demon possession and put her life back on the right road. He was even critical of Jesus for accepting her offering of praise, but he was clueless of what it felt like to be pulled out of the fires of hell and spared the agonizing death and torments of an eternity without God. Jesus rebuked him and established the woman’s gift of praise as a memorial that would be admired again and again.

Nobody knows the depth of your praise like you do. Nor do they know the stamina of your love for Jesus. The palm branch has a great strength about it. The winds can blow against it until it bends to kiss the earth, but when the storm has passed, the tree will return to its solid and tall position. If you’ve ever fallen in love with Jesus, then you know how strong that bond is. Without doubt, things have happened along the way to test the endurance of your love for Him, but when the storm passed by and the wind had stopped blowing, your enduring love and appreciation for Jesus was still intact. Why? Because He first loved you and gave Himself for you.

Dr Timothy Hill

Dr. Timothy Hill currently serves as General Overseer of the Church of God. He has also served as the general director of World Missions; First Assistant General Overseer; Second Assistant General Overseer; Secretary General of the Executive Committee at the International Offices of the Church of God; Chairman of the Executive Council of the Church of God; and as Administrative Bishop for the Church of God in Southern Ohio and Oklahoma. Hill graduated from Lee University, Cleveland, Tennessee, in 1987, and received a Doctorate of Divinity from the Church of God Theological Seminary, Cleveland, Tennessee, in 2006. Hill has released a book entitled, “Beyond the Mist,” which has also been translated into Spanish. He has authored five books of sermons and written 150 gospel songs over the past 32 years. Many of his songs have been recorded by the nation’s top artists in gospel music. Hill is the author of the number one song, “He’s Still in the Fire,” which was voted as Song of the Year by Gospel Voice Magazine.
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