The Lord Needs Them

Scriptures: “As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” (Matthew 21:1-3)

It was the Palm Sunday yesterday. As my pastor preached from the passage above, I couldn’t help noticing that, for this triumphal entry into Jerusalem, our Lord had in mind a donkey and a colt for His ride into town. The same event was also recorded in the book of Luke where this colt was described as “which no one has ever ridden.” (Luke 19:30) I wonder why? Why a colt, especially one that “no one has ever ridden”? Aren’t donkeys known for their stubbornness? Later in verse 4, Matthew told us that “This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet” (Matthew 21:4) and this amazed me.

This amazed me because, for such an important occasion in His ministries, the Lord said He needed them to fulfill the prophecy by Prophet Zachariah. One would think that, with the stubbornness of donkeys, this young colt which had never been ridden would definitely need to be taught / trained in order to be useful in some ways. But, to our Lord, that’s not the case at all. Just the way it was would be good enough for Him. This got me to think, if the Lord could use a colt for such a significant occasion, how much more can He use you and me?

All too often when I tried to invite people to serve in one capacity or another in the church, I was given an answer like: “I don’t know anything about it.” Or “I am not good at it.” And I wonder if this is true. After all, who knows how to do anything at birth?

I have been greatly inspired by the testimony of one of our elders in the church. When she was first called to serve, she admitted that she did not know anything about how to go about any church ministry. But she was willing to learn. So, she took time to join the caring team to visit brothers and sisters in various situations. She observed how the pastor and the co-workers administer to the people they visited and later became a source of great comfort and encouragement to everyone in the church.

When she was assigned the responsibility to oversee the financial operation of the church, though lacking any financial training, she invited people with that background to help her learn and manage that part of the church operation. Her sensitivity to details and determination to be a godly steward of all that entrusted to her made her one of the best controller in our church. More than that, she took time to attend any seminars, conference and workshops whenever she could so she might be equipped to share the good news of our Lord Jesus whenever an opportunity presented itself.

I saw in this godly sister an example of servanthood. It really wasn’t about what we can or have. It was really all about what we will, both in learning and in serving. I want to be like her. I know I can be at times stubborn; I know I can be at times foolish (or more often than I would want to admit); I know I can be at times blind. But what an honor it would be to carry the glorious King on my shoulder into town?

I am convinced that, today more than ever, our Lord King wants to ride on our shoulders to go into our towns, our celebrations, our houses, and our hearts. It really doesn’t matter who we are or what we are. It matters that He needs us; it matters that we can be useful in His Kingdom.

I prayerfully hope that, on this Palm Sunday, our Lord can call you and me into services so He may once again enter and rule in our communities, our homes and our lives as we submit to Him for His purpose!

Prayer Requests:
1. For every willing heart to mightily used in this dark and desperate generation
2. For every unwilling heart to be touched and motivated for His glory

Prayer:
Father God, as we sing and shout "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" to our Lord Jesus to celebrate the coming of our King Jesus for our salvations, we ask for Your help to make us humble and willing servants as we learn from His humble examples so He may enter and transform our lives and realize the Kingdom of God in our midst. We humbly pray in the glorious name of our Lord Jesus, Amen!