Choose the Donkey

05 Apr Choose the Donkey

Read Matthew 21:1-11 (NLT)
Thought for the Day: Humility makes a difference!

Imagine a triumphant, globally-recognized hero who was supposed to arrive in New York Harbor. Can you imagine what would happen? The entire international press would arrive with commotion and impatiently wait for this hero to arrive on a superyacht with an aerial escort. Every imaginable celebrity would be out looking for a red-carpet photo-op or viral moment.

Now imagine that a rusty rowboat showed up with a quiet, thirty-something guy wearing sandals talking about peace, love, and forgiveness while challenging the hypocrisy of society. That’s what it would be like for Jesus to show up today the way He did that first Palm Sunday on a donkey.

Let’s not miss that He didn’t choose a chariot, but a donkey. While many expected Jesus to enter Jerusalem as a hero, He instead asked His disciples to find a humble animal: “Jesus sent two of them on ahead. ‘Go into the village over there,’ He said. ‘As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and He will immediately let you take them.” Jesus knew exactly what sort of impression He wanted to make. Rather than asking for a warhorse, He borrowed a donkey and rode into the city with a kind smile.

How often do we find ourselves getting into trouble because we ask for a chariot when we should choose the donkey? Thinking more of ourselves than we should, we are surprised when our expectations fail to meet reality. At the times when life makes no sense, let’s ask two questions:

1 – Am I making things worse by holding onto unrealistic expectations?
2 – Am I willing to follow Jesus’ example of humility right now at this moment?

In Christ,
Pastors Stan and David