Key Passage
The followers went into the town. They found a young donkey tied in the street near the door of a house. The followers untied the donkey. Some people were standing there and saw this. The people asked, “What are you doing? Why are you untying that donkey?” The followers answered the way Jesus told them to answer. The people let the followers take the donkey.
— Mark 11:4-6 ERV (Read Full Text)
Key Thought
“The Lord needs it and will return it soon.” That’s what Jesus’ followers told the owners of the colt. (See verse 3.) They were permitted to take it when they gave these words. What about us? What in our lives does the Lord need to use? Is it our talent, treasure, or time? Is it our family, friends, or future? What in our lives—and yes, I will ask this of myself as well—is hardest for us to relinquish to the Lordship of Jesus? Is it some secret place in our heart where we have let sin take root? Is it some cherished goal? Is it some lazy habit … personal possession … cherished accomplishment? Like the owner of this colt, the Lord relays his message: “The Lord has need of it.” So will we release our grip and let him have these things? The transformational power of Jesus’ sacrifice is often blocked in our lives because we will not let him march into our hearts with cries of “Hosanna!” because we will not permit him to have what we grasp. If he can let go of heaven for us, then why would we cling to our temporal toys and block his path to the throne of our hearts?
Prayer
O God, the loving Almighty, I ask for help in opening every area of my heart, every avenue in my life, to your Son. Help me permit him to be Lord of all of me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Related Scriptures
Christ had no sin. But God made him become sin. God did this for us, so that in Christ we could become right with God.
— 2 Corinthians 5:21
You know the grace (kindness) of our Lord Jesus Christ. You know that Christ was rich {with God}, but for you he became poor. Christ did this so that you could become rich by his becoming poor.
— 2 Corinthians 8:9
In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus. Christ himself was like God in everything. Christ was equal with God. But Christ did not think that being equal with God was something that he must keep. He gave up his place with God and agreed to be like a servant. He was born to be a man and became like a servant. And when he was living as a man, he humbled himself by being fully obedient to God. He obeyed even when that caused him to die. And he died on a cross. Christ obeyed God, so God raised Christ to the most important place. God made the name of Christ greater than every other name. God did this because he wants every person to bow for the name of Jesus. Every person in heaven, on the earth, and under the earth will bow. Every person will confess (say), “Jesus Christ is Lord (Master).” When they say this, it will bring glory to God the Father.
— Philippians 2:5-11
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