Friday, May 1, 2009

Loosed for the Lord's Service

I know that we've passed Easter, but won't you revisit it with me today?

As He neared Jerusalem that final time, Jesus told two of His disciples, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’” ( Luke 19:31)

When they went, of course, they found things exactly as He had said:
But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?” And they said, “The Lord has need of him.” Then they brought him to Jesus. (Luke 19:33-35a)

At first glance, the colt is just a form of transportation. But then the "Hosannas" start. People are laying their clothes on the ground for the animal to walk on, and a proclamation is made:

‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:38)

Loosed for the Lord's service, the simple colt becomes the King's vehicle. Like the manger, the King's presence takes something menial and crowns it with royal purpose and eternal significance.

Isn't it like that with us?

I think that it's significant that the disciples were called on by Jesus to loose the colt. It was a simple act that required two things from them. It required them to act boldly on a word from the Lord, and it required them to make a declaration of who He is.

If Jesus called on His disciples to loose the lowly colt for His eternal purpose, how much more shall we obey His call to us to loose the children?
Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? (Isaiah 58:6)

Let us act boldly to deliver children from poverty and oppression. Let us declare God's Word over them. And if anyone asks, ‘Why are you loosing them?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of them.’ And let us bring them to Jesus.

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