(June 12, 2024) Angeline Selvakumari encourages us to be available to the Lord, to ‘be donkeys’ for Him…

I can’t believe we are already completing the first half of 2024 so quickly. Time flies so fast. I think that is why the Bible teaches us to use our time wisely: ‘Making the very most of your time’ (Ephesians 5:16Amp). Message Bible emphasises ‘Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!’ 

Purpose
No one can know time better than Jesus. He knew when to keep His purpose for coming to the world a secret, and when to declare it openly.

His entry into Jerusalem on a donkey was that significant event. In doing so, Jesus was now publicly declaring Himself as the Messiah, fulfilling the prophecy of Zachariah 9:9.

Mark 11:7-9aGWV records, ‘They brought the donkey to Jesus, put their coats on it, and He sat on it. Many spread their coats on the road. Others cut leafy branches in the fields and spread them on the road. Those who went ahead and those who followed Him were shouting, “Hosanna!”…’

While hearing the cheering, singing, and praises, Jesus knew that in a few days He would be humiliated, stripped, spat on, lashed, and crucified! Jesus knew perfectly well what was going to happen to Him, yet He willingly made this journey to Jerusalem as He knew it was the right time to do so.

The reality is that Jesus knew His overall purpose and sought to fulfil it! His death on the cross would be a blessing for generations to come, His brokenness would bring redemption to all humanity.

Earlier He had told two of His disciples, ‘Go into the village ahead… you will find a young donkey tied there… Untie it, and bring it’ (Mark 11:2GWV). As I read this, three phrases immediately caught my attention:

(i) Find it!
(ii) Untie it!
(iii) Bring it!

Let me share with you dear Echo of His Call extended family members about these phrases…

1. Find It!
This ‘It’ was a humble donkey. Unlike horses – symbols of war –  donkeys are a symbol of peace and humility, They’re not very attractive but carry burdens and were used by the Jews in their fields and mills.

Jesus’ command was to go and find this one that had never carried anyone. He had obviously chosen it for His usage, to carry Him. Jesus is still in the business of finding donkeys (human ‘its’ – you and me) for His usage in ‘carrying’ His gospel of love to needy people!

Not that we’re donkeys… but Jesus is looking for you and me to carry His word and love to a needy world! Put it this way… Jesus is like a busy Human Resources Manager desperately looking for those who will willingly give of their time.

But… sadly such Christians can be so busy in other things, so involved, so tied up that they’re not available to Jesus!

If asked, ‘Why didn’t you come to the Bible study?’ the answer is usually ‘I was tied up with work.’ If I say to someone, ‘I didn’t see you in church last week’ the response can be that they were tied with some personal work or family commitments. Even worship practice can have its absentees and on asking ‘Why’ I hear the like of ‘Sorry. Was tied up with coursework.’

Please don’t get me wrong; all these ‘tie-ups’ are important. But what we need to understand is that many times it is Satan who has kept us busy, tied us up with work, families, relationships, education, and earning money!

Has Jesus found you? Have you willingly responded to His calling on your life?

The disciples found that needed donkey tied up to a door (Mark 11:4a MKJV) and they had to untie it if it was to be used by their Master. If we are going to be used by Jesus, we need to be loose, untied!

2. Untie It!
Have some kind of doors tied you up, hindering you from carrying Jesus and His word?

a) Hampering Doors
People think the more they earn, the more they can save. No, it is absolute nonsense; the more money we make, the higher the expenses. People sometimes buy things on loan and end up working long hours to pay off the debt, so much so they don’t have time to enjoy what they have bought. 

Today Jesus is desperately seeking Christians who can ‘carry’ Him, but all He sees is people tied to doors – doors of work, of building houses or their own empires, of expanding their boundaries.

• Do you know what BUSY stands for?
• Being Under Satan’s Yoke!
• The devil is constantly keeping us busy so that we have no time to pray, read the Bible, fast, meditate, fellowship, and go to church!

May God help us to come out of being busy under the yoke of Satan, which is heavy and burdensome, and come under our Saviour’s yoke which is light and easy (Matthew 11:28-30).

If we are not under Jesus’ yoke, we will be under Satan’s. When we are under that yoke we will have no time for our Christian family, our personal relationship with God, our church commitments. We will be out of God’s will and purpose. This is the time to make a choice.

b) Hindering Crossroads
The tied donkey that Jesus needed was found at a crossroads ‘…where two ways met’ – amphodon, fork in the road (Mark 11:4b MKJV).

• Are you are at a crossroads, a fork in the road? You feel pulled in all directions, unable to make a choice.
• Or maybe you’re saying, ‘I’ve served the Lord since childhood. But look at what happened to me; I don’t deserve this. I don’t want to come close to God; I’d rather stay away than get close and get hurt.’
• Or you may be wanting the world and God, wrongly thinking, ‘I prefer to follow Him at a distance.’

Following Jesus at a distance is a hazardous act! You will soon find yourself on the path of walking away from God, betraying your faith. The Bible recounts how Peter trailed Jesus from afar and elucidates the subsequent events that transpired (Matthew 26:58).

If you are keeping Jesus at a distance, you are preparing to fail… if you haven’t already! You have to make a decision today because you’re at the crossroads. Jesus is saying, ‘I have been looking for you’ and, hallelujah, He will find you no matter where you go!

Confused and perplexed? Surrender yourself into the hand of Jesus who died for you on the cross, who took all our pains, worries, failures, curses, and punishments. He can make our paths straight and clear, unhindered.

2. Untie It!
Those disciples found the donkey Jesus that had directed them about and untied it for the Lord’s purpose, whatever that would be (Mark 11:3).

Our God has great purposes for us… but He is a gentle God and will never force Himself on anyone. His love for us is so strong that He will wait every like the prodigal son’s father did, looking for his ‘tied up’ boy to return. This is the love of our heavenly Father! Is He still waiting for you? If so, what are you tied up with? 

Dear brothers and sisters, God wants to untie us and use us!

• Sadly, some of us don’t want to be untied because our mind and heart contradict each other. We say, ‘Lord, let your will be done,’ but then say, ‘Lord, fulfill the desires of my heart.’ Such a contradiction holds us back in our Christian walk. God wants us to move forward in 2024 towards what He has planned for us, but we are held back by our own desires.
• You may want to serve the Lord and live a pleasing life for Him… but you’re tied up, unable to move. In a broken state of mind, you’re feeling crushed, and only God knows your heart. People see your smile; no one knows the tears you shed in the darkness of the night. 
• God is willing to untie you from any entanglement. Indeed He desires to liberate you from the constraints binding you, hindering your progress. But the question is still, ‘Do you want to be untied?’

Turn to Jesus this day! He is actively releasing individuals from bondage. Let this be your moment; implore the Lord to untie whatever confines you. Seek liberation and advancement, breaking free from the cycles that impede your journey.

3. Bring It!
The donkey was brought to Jesus for His use. God is searching for you… to untie you… so that He can bring you into His plan of serving your Saviour!

Note: In choosing you to serve Him,  God doesn’t require you to first become a saint and then come to Him. Come as you are… with baggage, pain, disappointments, anger, frustration, defeat, and loneliness. Jesus empathises with your struggles. You may possess wealth, influence, and renown, yet still be grappling with solitude. Despite usually being surrounded by throngs of people, in the final hours of His life Jesus experienced profound loneliness in the garden of Gethsemane.

God comprehends the depths of loneliness and He can help you! Nevertheless, many of us contend with indescribable anguishing isolation and shatteredness. You might be broken, humiliated, defeated, but God is searching for you today; He wants to untie you so that He can bring you close to Himself. Psalm 34:18 is so comforting: ‘The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.’ As is Psalm 147:3, ‘He heals the brokenhearted, binds up their wounds.’

Brokenness is the prerequisite for God to build something new. You might be tied up with sin, bad habits, sickness, financial difficulties, generational curses, or traditions, but God is willing to untie you because He loves you and wants you ‘carrying’ Jesus. If you feel like you’re running too far away from God, remember that He still says, ‘I want you!’ Will you turn back to Him now?

Biblical characters like  Rahab, Matthew and Zacchaeus all had difficult pasts, but that did not determine their present or future! God is not concerned about your past either – if you’re washed in the blood of His Son!

God wants you; As mentioned above He has a ministry for you – to ‘carry’ Jesus, His word, and His purpose whereever you are or go!

Warning: Know that if you refuse to surrender, God will let you go and you’ll have to face the consequences. 

Many are tied up standing at some crossroads today; If that’s you, I encourage you to make up your mind to fully surrender to Jesus. 

Remember… the Lord is in need of you to achieve His purposes. Discover His particular purpose for you and go for it!
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Pastor Angeline Selvakumari is Honourary Editor-in-Chief Echo of His Call, India’s Spiritual Newspaper, and Dr S Sam Selva Raj’s daughter. In furthering Echo of His Call ministries, established 1969, Dr Sam daily broadcasts 5-minute messages in Hindi, Tamil and English on YouTube, trusting the Lord to provide for the costs. Link: sam@echoofhiscall.org 
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