The Lord Has Need Of Him
Ponder: What does God need from you?
Scripture: “And they said, ‘The Lord has need of him’” (Luke 19:34 NKJV).
Technically, God does not “need” anything; rather, it is He who “gives to all life, breath, and all things” (Acts 17:25). However, a few days before His crucifixion, Jesus sent two disciples to get a donkey colt for Him to ride into Jerusalem. Anticipating that the owners might object, Jesus told the disciples to explain: “The Lord has need of him” (Luke 19:31).
Jesus could have provided donkey colts for Himself and everyone else miraculously. Instead, He chose to use one belonging to willing people. Once the disciples told the owners that the Lord needed their colt, all objections ceased.
Jesus often relied on the generosity of friends. Rather than miraculously supplying His own day-to-day needs, He accepted the hospitality of good people like Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Even when His body was taken down from the cross, it was buried in the tomb of a friend, Joseph of Arimathea.
What might you have that the Lord needs? Dollars and cents? Yes, but think more broadly. How about your time? Reading the Bible, praying, attending, teaching others, visiting the sick, teaching, and helping the needy, all take time. They also take work. The Lord needs your mental and physical energy.
The Lord needs your family members. Teachers, deacons, elders, preachers, and other workers do not appear out of thin air! Your family members will be hindered from serving unless you are supportive. You might prefer that your child or grandchild live close to home with a secure, high-paying job. But the Lord may need him/her in another community, another state, or (dare I say it?) another country, helping people you don’t even know to learn the gospel.
I hope when we get to Heaven we can talk to the owners of that donkey colt Jesus rode. What went through their minds that day? The Lord had need of him. That’s all that mattered. May God help us to adopt their perspective!
Song: “We Give Thee but Thine Own”
Prayer: Father, we are happy that You choose to work through us. You have entrusted much to us as stewards. May we use our time, our talents, and our treasure to Your eternal glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Joe Slater (Justin, TX)