God has given us many things: our talents, our resources, our time, our children, our jobs, our interests. They belong to Him. God has given them to us as a gift. They are ours to use, but He can ask for them back at any time.  At any time  He can request that what He has given be returned in some fashion. He can do this because He is the true owner; we are trustees.

The true believer knows that the value of what we have is multiplied when it is placed in the Lord’s hands. The man gave his donkey, even though it was valuable to him. But look at how much more valuable it became when placed in the hands of Jesus. His donkey was had a part in fulfilling prophecy. His donkey transported the Lord of All Creation. His donkey (and its owner) have been remembered for two thousand years because of their simple act. None of this would have been possible if the man had refused to give what He had.

What we have is never more valuable than when we place these things in the capable and strong hands of Jesus. So, here’s the question? What is God asking of you? How can you “invest” what He has given you? What does He want you to give? A talent, some time, some money, a willingness to obey? I can’t tell you. It may be simple, it may be great . . . but what we do know is that the true disciple gives what the Master asks for.

There were 2 groups of people that Sunday. There were the Enthusiastic. These people screamed ’Hosanna” on Sunday and at the end of the week, said nothing, or even, “Crucify Him”. These are the people who follow the crowd. They will sing the hymns, clap their hands, serve on boards and committees but never make a commitment to Jesus. They are going to go whichever way is popular, whichever way is the most fun or which “ministers to them most”. Their chief concern is not following Christ; it is being “where the action is.”

And then there were the Committed. These are the folks who trust Christ as Savior and as Lord. He is the Master of their lives. What He commands they will do. Where He sends, they will go. What He asks for, they will give.

So, which group are you in? You see, the issue this Palm Sunday is the same as the first Palm Sunday. Jesus declares Himself to be the long awaited King that will redeem those who trust Him. The declaration is the same . . . and so is the choice. Will you receive Him as King and Savior or will you simply stand on the sidelines? You see, it is really not about a man’s donkey . . . it is about a person’s heart.                             (PAT COOK)

THE YOUNG ISRAELITE SLAVE GIRL
(2 Kings 5: 2-3)
This young girl did not think about her own personal difficult situation. She used her situation to point others to God.

When you are in a bad situation, you have a choice. You can be bitter, or you can be used by God. You can pout, or you can point people to the Lord. We do not have to be of great standing, highly educated, well read and well respected to be witnesses of God’s love, His grace, and His healing. We just have to be willing to speak up. That’s all it takes.

THE KING OF ISRAEL (2 Kings 5: 5-6)

The King of Israel was very upset when Naaman arrived. He thought the King of Aram was asking him to do something impossible. The King of Israel thought that this would lead to big problems, maybe even war. The leader of God’s people did not turn to God for help. He didn’t see this challenge as an opportunity for God to show His mighty power. The King depended on himself, and he knew he would fall short.

When you have a problem, what do you do first? Do you try to handle it on your own? Do you worry and get discouraged? Your first response should be to bring your problems to the Lord. He has the power that no one else has. Your challenges are opportunities for the Lord to show His mighty power (2 Corinthians 12:9).

NAAMAN (2 Kings 5: 9-10)

Naaman didn’t like what he heard. He was used to being treated like a king. He was insulted that Elisha did not come out to meet him face to face. Naaman thought that Elisha would make a big show of his healing. Naaman did not understand that the healing miracle would bring glory to God, not Naaman. Even though Naaman was covered in leprosy, with no hope of a cure, he stormed off in anger. Wisely, Naaman’s servants calmed down their master, and encouraged him to do what Elisha said. So Naaman went to the Jordan River and dipped into it seven times. After Naaman’s seventh dip, his skin was healed!

Naaman had to learn that God did not heal him because he was an important leader, or because he had valuable gifts to give. The Lord healed him because God is good, and God wants people to know Him.

When you come to God, you must do things His way. He ALWAYS knows best. He helps you because He is good, and He wants people to know Him. We try to fit God into a little box that we can understand, but we can never fully comprehend the workings of the Almighty God! We want to see signs of God working, so that we know He is doing something. But true faith is the certainty that He is at work in our lives, even when we do not see any signs of Him working.                                        (SOURCE UNKNOWN)

It is so easy to let things overcome us. Even our problems can become idols to us. We can get to the place where they take the place of our love for God.

Lois K. Blanchard pictures Christ as still walking the streets today. She asks these pointed questions:

“If Jesus came to your own home to spend a day or two — If He came unexpectedly, I wonder what you’d do? I know you’d give your nicest room to such an honored Guest, and all the food you’d serve to Him would be the very best.

And you would keep assuring Him you’re glad to have Him there – That serving Him in your own home is joy beyond compare; but when you saw Him standing there, could you go to the door, with arms outstretched to welcome Him, your Heavenly Visitor?

Or would you have to change some things before you let Him in? Or hide some magazines and put the Bible where they’d been?

Would family conversation be continued at its pace? And would you find it hard at each meal to say a table grace?

Would you be glad to have Him meet your very closest friends? Or would you hope they’d stay away until His visit ends?

Would you be glad to have Him stay forever, on and on? Or would you sigh with great relief when He at last was gone?

It might cause some embarrassment the things that you would do, if Jesus came to your own house to spend some time with you.”

Loving God redefines all priorities.

What time was yours, what energy was yours, what resources were yours, they are now given unselfishly to Him. You did that for your spouse when you first fell in love.

There is a huge difference between infatuation and commitment
If the only time you spend with God is on Sunday mornings – that’s religion, not love.

He is committed to you, are you committed to Him?           (KEITH EDWARDS)