They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go.
Mark 11:4-6
How do we react when God gives us some kind of instruction to follow? Do we:
· Gladly do it with great glee and happiness?
· Celebrate God’s goodness that he would show himself in such a personal way?
· Excitedly think how we can follow his direction with creativity, imagination, and energy?
· Thank God with genuine humility that our great God and savior would choose us for this task?
· Anticipate God showing up while we move forward, giving us power, insight and direction along the way?
· Jump up and down with delight, wondering what he’s going to do with us? For us? Through us?
Or do we go down into the depts of despair and depression? Do we:
· Think about all the other things we could be doing with our time, energy, money?
· Wonder if this is some kind of punishment that God has thrown down on us?
· Worry about how we’re going to do it?
· Duck our heads, waiting for God to smack us upside of the head?
· Assume that we’re going to fail because we’ve failed so many times in the past?
· Believe that since failure is our only option, why even try?
We don’t know what’s inside the two disciples’ heads, hearts, or emotions. We don’t know what they said to one another after they left Jesus and before coming to the colt. What we do know is that they did it. They followed Jesus’ instructions to a tee.
This is so important. We need to do what Jesus tells us. Just like he tells us. No matter what. No matter our past. What we think others might say. How we’re not qualified.
It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t make sense right now. We need to look forward with eyes of faith. That he has something in mind. Some good for others and us.
Ever been in a spot where you think you’re doing what God wants, and you don’t know what to think? Or that it doesn’t make sense. Or that things aren’t going the way you thought they would? If the answer is yes, how do you pray? What do you pray? How do you control your thoughts and emotions?
Here is a simple prayer that was taught to me early on in my walk with Jesus.
Dear God. This doesn’t make sense to me. I can’t control the people or things that are going on. I ask that you would take this and glorify yourself through it.
This is the same prayer Jesus prayed on the night he was betrayed.
Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.
I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
John 17:1,4,5
This takes all the pressure off. You’re to do your best while seeing God’s leading, direction, and power all along the way. Do the best you can, and leave the results up to the one who not only loves you, but has your best interest, and the best interest of everyone on planet earth in his heart and plan.
Remember, he wants nothing more than for everyone to come to the place where they admit that they’re broken. That they can’t fix themselves. That they’ve rebelled against the one who made and loves them. And he didn’t leave them hanging out to dry, or to die. He personally came to personally pay the eternal penalty, the debt we owed. He took it on himself, on the cross.
And now, it’s our turn. Not to do some great or noble things that will earn his attention, respect, or admiration. Our turn is to accept who he is and what he’s done with empty, open hands.
It’s that simple. It’s that straight forward. It’s that direct. You, God, together again at last.
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