Called By The Lord

Isaiah 49:1-5 says
1.
Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name.
2.
He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver.
3.
He said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor."
4.
But I said, "I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the LORD's hand, and my reward is with my God."
5.
And now the LORD says-- he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength--

Let these words speak to you today! Know that God has called you from the very beginning of life ... while in your mother's womb He called you!

Palm Sunday-The Beginning of Holy Week

Luke 19:29-40 says
29.
As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them,
30.
"Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.
31.
If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.' "
32.
Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them.
33.
As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?"
34.
They replied, "The Lord needs it."
35.
They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.
36.
As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
37.
When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38.
"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
39.
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"
40.
"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

There are a lot of good things in this verse, however I want to focus on the donkey. Yes you heard it, the donkey as well as obedience. This is often overlooked on Palm Sunday as the church focuses on Jesus' entry into Jerusalem riding on the donkey and the palm branches and the shouts of hosanna. Amidst all of this, there is the fact that Jesus asked his disciples to go into town where they would find a colt tied up and to take it and when the owner asks why are you taking it, say "the Lord needs it". Wow, can you imagine what the owner is thinking at this time? "Hey there, buddy, what are you doing with my donkey, hey come back here! I need to get to work, hey! Hey you! Come back!" and then in response, "Hey, you need to find another way to work, the Lord needs this donkey and we have orders to bring it to Him." Now, that's what I call obedience.

Now fast forward to present day, you start to leave to work in the morning to find a couple of guys driving away in your car. I'm sure your first reaction is to grab your cell phone and call the police as you run towards the car. Imagine your shock when the driver yells out to you, "The Lord needs it!" Well, what do you say to that? Now after serving God, you are walking to work!

It is hard to be a servant. Servant hood calls us to humble yourself and to give up something so that someone else can be comfortable. Jesus was the ultimate servant. Isaiah said he was spit upon, he washed his disciples feet only to be later betrayed by them, as a servant, Jesus became obedient to death on the cross so that we may live.

Are you willing to get down and dirty are you willing to possibly give your life for Christ? God calls us to follow His example. Christ calls us to give up what makes us comfortable to make others comfortable. God calls us to serve those who are not beautiful in His eyes, those who live on the streets, those who society have deemed unworthy. God calls us to give up the donkeys in our lives so that He can use them.

I challenge you this week to humble yourself and be His servant.

The Making of the Passion of the Christ

This is good stuff! Check it out

Welcome

Hello friends! Welcome to my blog! I hope you will find this a place where you will feel welcome, inspired and encouraged. Here, have a cup of tea, sit down for a while and bask in the goodness of God's amazing love for you. Feel welcome to invite friends along this journey with you. The more the merrier!