From the Pastor
Several years ago I read a Palm Sunday devotional from the National Association of Marriage Enhancement that I never forgot. It was entitled, “You Are the Donkey.” It’s got such a great message that I’d like to paraphrase part of it for you. (The author was not listed so I cannot give him or her the credit deserved.)
Next Sunday we celebrate Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We remember the big event, the palm branches and garments and the cries of “Hosanna,” but Scripture tells us that the day started differently. You see, before Jesus entered the city, He told his disciples, “go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once’” (Matthew 21:2-3). The Bible tells us that Jesus rode in on that donkey while the people of the city lined the streets, waved palm branches, and celebrated His coming.
Now think about this. The donkey wasn’t necessary to Jesus’ triumphal entry. He could have walked, for that matter He could have ridden a camel, but He chose to ride the donkey. It would have been a great mistake for that donkey to think that all the praises and celebration were for him. He was just a donkey.
We need to remember that we are donkeys in God’s story. Sometimes Jesus chooses to use us for a specific ministry. If we believe that He needed to do that because of our great talents or abilities we would be sadly mistaken. God uses us because He wants us to experience something bigger than ourselves that we might understand how weak we are in relation to His great power. He doesn’t want stallions who charge ahead. He prefers the slow and steady pace of a donkey. That way He can teach us.
So, I encourage you this Palm Sunday week to take a lesson from the donkey. “…whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” I Corinthians 10:31
RB