Pick a card, any card! Is this your card? Matthew 21:1-11
I can’t tell you how much I enjoy magic tricks. Even discovering how the magic trick is done is so impressive to me. I think about the level of detail and research required to pull off something so small as a magician or a street performer coughing up my card that I thought I put back in the deck. But nothing is as impressive as what God did for us 2,000 years ago.
Let’s take a minute and imagine.
The savior of the whole world, just days, a week, before his crucifixion rides into Jerusalem as prophesied by Zechariah (ZEC 9:9) on a colt. Did you know that a colt is a male horse around four years old? Think about the King of the Universe, the maker of the world, riding into town in a hoopty. That’s really what it was like. “Behold, your King is coming to you, gentle (lowly), and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Matthew 21:5)
How amazing! But there’s no trick here. This is exactly what was supposed to happen.
The sleight of hand comes into play in our hearts and the hearts of the people that were present at the time. As the scripture said the multitude praised him. They spread their clothing on the ground in honor of him. They cut down branches of palm leaves, spreading them before him. But they didn’t know him. As Pastor said Sunday, they saw him for what he could give them. They saw him as the miracle worker, healer, provider of food for 5,000 from two loaves of bread and fish, and a changer of water into wine. They did not see the King of kings, the Savior, the Messiah, as the Redeemer of their lives, If they had, then they would have been calling for his freedom before Pilate.
But they weren’t there because they were caught up in what he could do for them. And when it looked like he was failing, they were nowhere in sight or sound.
And I am no different.
I often pray without the right perspective. I don’t pray to the Messiah. I pray to a street performer. Please God, another trick, pay my bills by the 10th, even though I spent it on clothes and my hair. Please God, give me a promotion, ok, now a husband and children. I don’t always have a heart set to follow the Messiah, God’s kingdom or of God’s plan, but of my plan for my life.
He said his kingdom is not of this world.
As Pastor said, if we are followers of Christ, our kingdom and prayers would reflect this mindset. How often do we pray for the poor, for the future, for the message of Christ to be preached, for the coming of the kingdom, for his rule over the earth, for his rule over our lives?
I don’t know if you’re like me, but lately I find that my prayers are more about bills, death of family members, health, promotions, marriage, success, or financial growth. “You’re behavior indicates your relationship with him.” (Pastor Meeks)
How do I welcome Jesus into my heart? Into my life? With palm leaves for an unknown king, or as the triumphant Lord and savior of my life?
How do you welcome Him, who through ruthless beatings and capital sentencing, paid all costs for the chance of our love?
Categories: Acts17seventeen Follower Of Jesus
audreyell
I am a writer, a poet. I peruse life like a storybook, a tale, where the ending is unknown but believed to be happily ever after. I am an attorney by trade. I am a singer, poet, and actress by desire and gift. I am a member of City Church of Sacramento and I am growing in grace and repentance. I am a daughter, a sister, an aunt, and friend, all of which I am gratefully budding in.
acts17seventeen 
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