Who would you say God is? He’s our maker, our father, our friend. He is our judge, our leader, our savior, our king. God is all of these things, but let’s pull back from the words themselves. Who is God in your heart? When you speak of him, how do you sound? When you pray to him, what do you say? What is your tone? I’ve come to realize my treatment of God is often far more casual than he deserves.
In an Equip class at my church, we talked about the sovereignty of God. It’s a heavy topic, and one that we can’t ignore. But it didn’t really set in with me until I did my bible reading at home. In preparation for Easter, I read through Luke chapter 19, verses 28 through 48. I encourage you to read through this passage before continuing through this devotional.
There are a few verses I’d like to highlight.
Luke 19:30-35 (NIV) – “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. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
They replied, “The Lord needs it.”
They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.
What really jumps out at me here is how quickly the owners of the colt seem to accept this answer. Imagine for a moment if someone came to your house, grabbed your car keys or your lawn mower or your computer, and said only that the Lord needs it. What would it be like to have such reverence for God, that we accepted that answer without complaint?
Luke 19:36-38 (NIV) – As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. 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:
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Now we see all these people putting their cloaks on the ground to be trod upon. All the dirt, muck, and who knows what else that colt may have stepped in was to be pressed in on the cloaks. Now maybe, for the colt carrying the Lord, even its feet were clean. But we don’t know that, the text certainly doesn’t say it, and the people wouldn’t have known for sure. Yet they willingly put their clothes out under its feet, and they sing praises. Again I am just struck by the absolute joyous devotion to God.
Luke 19:39-40 (NIV) – Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Think about that for a moment. Even the stones themselves were ready to sing God’s praises. I can’t even fathom that. It leaves me wondering, what is my devotion to God? Do I truly recognize just how mighty and holy he is? God doesn’t answer to us, he isn’t our equal, he is so far above us we can’t even fully grasp it.
If I had devotion like that shown in these verses, I doubt I’d ever struggle to share the good news of the Gospel. Yet I can barely bring myself to even publicly mention that I attend church, let alone what I believe. If you find yourself there today too, don’t fret. God, in all his mighty power and infinite knowledge, knows our struggles. He is ready to guide and enable us. Would you pray with me?
Father God, forgive my ignorance. I have not viewed you as you are, and I have not lived in full devotion to you. I cling to that which I call mine, and I think often of myself first. Please forgive me, and please renew my heart in you. Help me to let go of my selfish ambitions, and to surrender my life wholly and completely to you. I pray that this prayer would not be a mere moment of inspiration, but a mark of a life changed by you. Please guide me to share the good news, to proclaim your name, to embrace everything you command of me. Lord you are good, and you deserve all that I have to give. Thank you for the life you have given me, and the growth in my relationship with you. In your mighty name I pray, Amen.
God loves you, and he’s ready to show it. 🙂 Have an amazing week!