The Lord Has Need of You!


	The Lord Has Need of You! The last week before He was crucified, Jesus entered into Jerusalem triumphantly upon a colt. But before doing this He charged His disciples to go into a village and locate a colt, a young donkey, upon which He could ride (Luke 19:30). Living in a "Village" A "village" in the Bible portrays a place where men live a short-sighted life in the routine and tradition of their fathers. Villagers seldom consider the real meaning of their lives. Other than how they dress and perhaps having a few modern conveniences, day in and day out these villagers live in much the same way their fathers and grandfathers did. In the eyes of the Lord, all men are "villagers." Whether people live in New York City or in rural Minnesota, God sees them as short-sighted and lost. Very few know the real meaning of life. Very few even take time to consider the real meaning of life. Why is this? It is because people are short-sighted, inhabiting their "villages." However, the Lord never forgets the villagers. He even sends His disciples into the villages to get Himself a donkey. The Lord's "Colt" A donkey is used to carry heavy loads for men. But in this case, the Lord did not ask for a donkey that was well trained in bearing heavy loads. Instead He requested a colt, a young foal not yet encumbered by anyone or anything. This "colt" represents the kind of person the Lord is looking for in villages. This colt is not laden and consumed by the cares of this life, striving for position, fame, or wealth. But a young colt is one who is seeking the meaning of his life, just waiting to be ridden by Jesus. Not desiring to be utilized to bear the loads of other men, this colt awaits a disciple to tell him, "The Lord has need of you." The Colt's Other Masters The colt that Jesus is seeking has more than one master. These masters are anxiously waiting for the colt to grow up so that they can weigh it down with many burdens. The condition of the colt is that of us all. Many people and things are waiting to claim us, to make us subject to their demands and authority, thereby becoming our "masters." A businessman may be "owned" by his financial status and level of success; a college professor may be indifferent to wealth, but utterly owned by the lord of scholarship and intellectual prestige. However, the Lord Jesus is sensitive to our condition, and wants to loose us from our masters' reign. He sends His disciples into a little village to loose the colt. The Lord seeks to free men, while the "masters" intend to keep them bound. As soon as the disciples want to free the colt, the masters rise up to argue. Has this been your experience? Once you respond to the Lord's call to freedom, and you seek to be loosed from all the rulers, these same masters will rise up, exclaiming, "Why are you loosing the colt?" The masters immediately seek to exercise their authority over you once again, seeking to keep you in their bondage. I recall the arguments and excuses my friends gave me after I invited them to a Christian meeting. Their owners protested. Some had to study for tests. A few mentioned the need to nurse a cold that was coming on, while others couldn't afford the time because they had planned a ski weekend up north. In a matter of moments after my invitation, they were swarmed with their owners. The Lord Has Need of Me! Have you had this experience? If so, then you realize that you are that little donkey in a village; you are a foal who needs to declare, "The Lord has need of me." Certainly, if you desire to follow the Lord, your owners will rise up to protest. They will do their utmost to keep you tied and encumbered. But you must respond to the Lord's call and declare, "The Lord has need of me." To your career, future, wealth, fame, family and friends, you must proclaim, "The Lord has need of me! I want to satisfy Him, be used by Him, and be pleasing to Him. I want to be free to serve Him alone." Many owners will attempt to make you compromise, pleading with you to "not overdo it," to "be balanced," etc. But you must firmly resist: "The Lord has need of me. I shall not be encumbered by anything but Him." From this short story you are able to see what is in the Lord's heart. He wants to enter your village, and show you that He Himself is the meaning of your life. Then He will loose you from all of your owners so that you may serve Him alone. This is the greatest honor and privilege in the entire universe. Yet, at the same time, the owners rise up, staking their claims upon you. At this point, the Lord requires you to cooperate with Him by giving yourself wholly unto Him.