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Lent 2009

 

Center of Attention

By Sharon Martin
Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009
Scripture Verses
Matthew 21:1-11 (See also Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, John 12:12-19)

1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying 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. 3If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."

4This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5"Say to the Daughter of Zion,
      'See, your king comes to you,
   gentle and riding on a donkey,
      on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' "[a]

6The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
   "Hosanna[b] to the Son of David!"
   "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"[c]
   "Hosanna[d] in the highest!"

10When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"

11The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."

Devotion
Many people that know me well would be baffled to hear that I consider myself quite shy.  I can be the life of the party and the center of the conversation quite easily.  But what would it take for me to fully embrace my shy nature and get out of the way of the Lord Jesus coming through?  If He were riding through town, would I feel the need to draw attention to myself or lay down my own cloak and branches to pave the way for Him?

But He isn’t riding through Greenwood on a donkey today.  So how do we go about paving the way for our Savior?  It could be by assisting a friend in need or reaching out to the poor at Fletcher Place.  Even raising our children with solid faith and foundation in the Word.  All of these pave the way for Jesus to work in people’s lives.  It must all be about Him and not about us.

There is another important part of this scripture.  While paving the way, we must praise His name and call Him blessed. Hosanna is a cry of salvation and praise. We can praise Him through song and through our testimony.  Every fiber of our being should praise Him daily for all He has done and all He has yet to do.

This Lenten season, let us focus on paving the way for the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Be attentive to His call and in everything we do, praise His name.

Prayer
Dear Lord,
Help each of us to lay aside our outward self so those we encounter see only you and your light shining through us.  May we continually draw others to you by paving your way and praising your name. 

Hosanna to the Son of David
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the highest!