“You're Untried until You're Untied” - Pastor Hines April 10, 2022

 

“You're Untried until You're Untied” - Pastor Hines

April 10, 2022

 

 

Jesus sent the disciples to a village to get a donkey colt, a soft and tender baby. He would soon ride, rather than walk to Jerusalem. Just like that little donkey in Bethphage, when our hearts, at any age, are fresh, soft, and tender, we nestle under Jesus. The villagers knew the disciples were coming to borrow the donkey. They knew they were part of Jesus’ purpose and plan. We all know. Ready or not, somehow we know Jesus has us in mind.

 

Jesus was planning to ride the donkey into Jerusalem just as royalty would normally do representing kingship. He was glad to be a kind and just king. It was so desperately needed in that world as it is in ours. Jesus would ride into Jerusalem just as generals did confident that the enemy was under their feet. Justice and mercy would prevail everywhere it could among those who worked for it and received it. People felt secure and confident that king Jesus would love and care about them. How wonderful it is to know a leader loves and cares for you, has your best interest at heart, institutes laws and policies that assure your well-being. How wonderful it is!

 

We often think of Jesus as walking mile after mile, but this day riding through town was a special way of promoting the cause of God’s justice and mercy. We all like a parade, especially if the parade affirms our cause. It makes us happy and gives us joy. Now was the time to lift up, parade, and promote his position for all to see and receive.

Like the donkey in Bethphage, we have our part in lifting Jesus up. We too are untied. We are free. What will we do with that freedom after we are untied? We are free to be like Jesus – loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. We are free to lift Jesus up by being faithful church members, by using our gifts, our talents, our resources to serve the least, the last and the lost and everyone else we can. We are free to love everybody as God gives us wisdom. Surely, we can’t love everybody in the same way. God guides us and gives us what we need to love everybody in whatever way is needed.

 

When we love everybody, a praise lives in our heart because there is no way to love everybody unless we have within us the power of an almighty God, and with all that, we cannot help but praise God. When we love everybody, miracles happen, joyful tears are shed, justice and mercy abound, and God is glorified.

 

Being untied, we go wherever we choose to go. As best we can, we follow Jesus. When we get off track, we can find our way home to the loving presence of Jesus, for Jesus provides the light we need. When we nod of in complacency, the Holy Spirit nudges our hearts.

 

Hopefully we will wake up. We will trust and obey, for there is no way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. It is not easy to trust and obey, but with God all things are possible. In this Lenten season, we are free. What will we do with that free will? Surely, we are untried until we are untied. Choose to trust and obey Jesus today. Amen.