28 Days until Easter

28 Days until Easter

I was actually reading Jude’s Children’s Picture Bible the first time I really noticed the part of scripture that I will focus on for my reflection today.  On the journey from Jericho to Jerusalem Jesus sends two of His disciples to untie a donkey colt that had never been ridden and bring it back to Him.  In the Picture Bible, I was looking at the illustration of Jesus talking to His disciples, instructing them to go to the next village to get the colt and let the owner know that “the Lord needs it.”  And looking at the lovely drawing of Jesus and His disciples in their robes and sandals, gathered at what looks like an olive tree in rocky terrain, and a shepherd with his sheep in the background, the first thing I did was cringe.  I mean I’m not going to lie, I would not have wanted to be the one tasked with freeing someone else’s animal and then letting them know that the Lord needs it.  Not only that, they were having to leave the company of the multitudes to go fetch a donkey.  I’m sure they looked at Jesus the same way Jude looks at me when I tell him at 8 o’clock at night as we sit around the fire watching Bob Ross, to go put on his shoes and bring in the trash cans.  No one wants to leave the heat of the fire and the company of family and the magic of Bob Ross to go out in freezing temperatures to bring in trash cans.  If I were at Jesus’s side and among His followers, the last thing I’d want to do would be to leave with a friend to go find a donkey that’s tied up and then have an awkward conversation with the owner.  But maybe the disciples had a better attitude than I do. Sometimes God instructs us to do things that we don’t necessarily feel like doing.  I would have been worried to death about what the owner would think of me.  But there was no need for worry.  When the disciples were untying the colt, the owers asked what they were doing. But when they said that the Lord needed the colt, the owners gave permission without any fuss.  God made the way for them.  They found the donkey with ease and the owner was completely fine with it.  It is just another reminder that I just need to trust and obey.  There is no need to cringe when I’m tasked with something that makes me uncomfortable.  God will make a way. 

The next illustration shows the two disciples next to the tied up colt.  Jesus had sent them to free it.  As I looked at the brightly colored picture on the glossy page, I just immediately thought about how He frees us the same way the disciples freed that colt.  He unties the things that hold us back.  There are so many things that tie us down.  Guilt.  Worry. Fear.  Our past.  Just like that donkey had a purpose for the King, so do we.  And just like Jesus set that donkey free to fulfill its purpose for Him, He sets us free to fulfill our purpose for Him.  We can surrender the things that hold us down to the One Who delivers.

The last picture shows the disciples walking away with the donkey.  This donkey has never been ridden.  It’s untamed, inexperienced, young and unbroken, yet this colt will be used to carry the Messiah into Jerusalem.  This animal might have seemed useless to most, but God uses the “useless” in unexpected ways for His glory.  We each have a purpose and if we’re willing, God can guide us through the things we don’t think we’re capable of.  I can imagine what the owners of the colt thought, “What in the world is Jesus going to do with that colt? Wait, surely that disciple isn’t placing his cloak across its back for Jesus to ride him!  He’s never been ridden!  That animal will freak out around all the people!  He’ll buck as soon as he feels the pressure of something on his back!”.  But I’m sure that what the owner didn’t realize was that as soon as Jesus put a hand on the animal, there was an immediate sense of calm.  I can picture Jesus gently rubbing the colt’s nose as He told him how he’d be used for such a great purpose.  

That’s the thing, we don’t have to be scholarly or knowledgable or philosophical or talented, we just have to be willing.  With a presence of calm, He’ll guide the way.  I’m sure the disciples thought, “Isn’t a donkey colt a bit humble, a bit meager for the King of Kings?”.  And I’m sure Jesus answered something like, “Well, that’s exactly what I’m looking for.  Nothing is too lowly or insignificant for Me to use in a mighty way”.

It’s a bit ironic that today’s reflection came from a Children’s Picture Bible. It didn’t come from my Archeological Study Bible or my Chronological Study Bible or one of my books of commentary or my Bible.is App.  Nope, God spoke to me through simple illustrations out of a Children’s Picture Bible. But it isn’t really ironic.  God uses the simple in not so simple ways.

My Lord,

I’m not much, but I willingly give You what I am.  Use me for your glory.  I ask that You calm my fears and guide me along the way. Take what’s simple and use it extraordinarily.