Luke 19:30-31 – Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, "Why are you untying it?" you shall say this: "The Lord has need of it." (ESV)

Many years ago, when finances were always tight, I was perusing the Sears catalogue and came across an absolutely perfect bathing suit in a stunning orange. I really needed a new suit, and this was my colour. It was also priced affordably. I could manage this.

As I was preparing to phone in my order, however, the Lord spoke to me, and I felt Him leading me to forego that marvellous suit in favour of sending the money to a specific cause that He brought to my mind.

Mmmm, this was not something that I wanted to do. With two young children at home and an income that barely made ends meet, I was very seldom able to purchase anything new for myself. And I really wanted that swimsuit. However, I could not afford to buy that suit and give the money as well.

After taking some time to think and pray about the situation, however, I decided to do what God had laid upon my heart, and to do it with a good attitude. In other words, I gave up my colt because the Lord had need of it.

I have often thought about the people who owned the colt that Jesus had need of. Perhaps it was their only colt. Did they know that they would get him back? What were their feelings about Jesus? Did they believe in Him, or did they let the colt go out of fear? Was it an easy decision or a difficult one to let the colt go? Did they see Jesus riding their colt in His triumphal entry and rejoice, or did they feel resentful that their colt had been taken by His disciples?

These are things that we do not know, although one day, we will. But in the meantime, I still think about them and those words, "The Lord has need of it," words which I believe He still speaks to each and every one of us daily. They sound something like this: "I, the Lord, have need of your helping hand today to encourage and care for the downtrodden. I need your thoughts and words to be kind and generous in spite of the difficult situation that you are in. I need your money and talents to further My kingdom worldwide. I need your time for prayer and fasting and study, that you might grow and become even more successful for Me here, where you are in this world but not of it. In other words, I have need of your 'colt'."

And what will be our response? Will we hold tight and refuse to untie it, or by faith, hand it over gladly, for the Lord has need of it?

Prayer: Father God, thank You that You have need of our "colts". Thank You that we have the opportunity to offer them up to You and to reap the blessings of obedience and humble service. Empower us today to untie and gladly give over to You whatever we have that You have need of. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.