It’s about the next generation, too
Matthew 21:1-3 (NIV)
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me.
We have been looking at this great account of Jesus sending His disciples to loose a donkey for the purpose of carrying Him into Jerusalem. We saw how He chose a donkey over a stallion as he is looking for faithfulness, not ego. We also considered how, like the donkey, we have not just been loosed to be free but rather that we would also have the privilege of carrying Him to all the places He now wants to go.
One other thing that I notice when I read this account in Matthew is that Jesus sent the disciples to loose and bring to Him not just the donkey but its young colt also. When I thought about this I saw something very significant relating to us and the next generation which is following us. God is not just looking at releasing faithful carriers for this generation through us but He is also passionate about the next one too. I believe true success is when we allow Him to loose our lives and use them for His kingdom purpose but also that we bring the next generation to Him too; that we take the time to raise them up to love and serve Him as we have decided to do. Again, it’s that principle of 'monkey see, monkey do' – when we allow the next generation (colts) to watch us carry and serve the Lord we will inspire them to do the same: we raise up an army to follow in our tracks.
Jesus wants us and them. It’s our responsibility to let the children and young people in our world find Jesus and His purposes while they are young, raising them up in the way they will go so when they get old they don’t depart (Proverbs 22:6). We should be protecting them from all the religious cobwebs we had to beat our way through to find Him, carrying them on our shoulders so they can see further than us.
Whether you are a parent, grandparent, children's or youth worker, remember and be inspired today that your influence over those 'colts' in your world is powerful. Make sure that you are influencing them toward Jesus, just as you are running after Him for yourself. We are God's masterplan for this moment, they are His masterplan for the moments that follow ours.
God bless,
Andy
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