A Burro at the Manger
BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL if you take the New River exit going into North Phoenix. There might be wild burros asleep, standing on the warm road around the next curve!
The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were like wild burros, blocking the way for brokenhearted people who knew all too well that they weren’t worthy to know God. The pharisees seemed quite religious, but they had little use for the Kingdom of Truth. In fact they were pointing out Jesus’ and His disciple’s failure to ‘meet expectations’, when Jesus quoted Isaiah, saying, “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me, and in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men, (Mark 7:6-7) They were not teachable because they had already made up their mind. They couldn’t hear because their attention was on the, “washing of pitchers and cups and many other such things…” To the pharisees, separation from the world was what won God’s blessings. This resulted in a focus on the outward appearance. The way their life looked to each-other had become more important than the workings of the heart, which is God’s real priority.
Our Lord sets us apart from this world as He brings us into His house, BUT He also wants to make his home in us! He wants to form us, and shape us to be more like him, right here on earth! In his humorous book, The Philippian Fragment, Calvin Miller tells the story of a young evangelist who, more than anything else, wanted the gift of healing, and so she went about the city looking for people to heal. She came upon a lame man on the sidewalk. He was destitute and dirty because of his handicap, and was trying to sell pencils for food. The evangelist asked him if he would like to be healed, and of course he was willing, so she prayed with all her heart for him; but nothing happened! Not knowing what else to do, and unconcerned about appearances, she sat down with him and helped him sell his pencils. After hours of joking and sharing, and getting to know each other, she realized she must go, but her legs had fallen asleep and stiffened and she couldn’t get up! “Be healed, be healed” laughed the lame man, and she slowly made her way onto her feet. They laughed and said farewell and though he was not healed; he rejoiced, having a new sister who really cared about him!
Are you reading and listening to Jesus today? He already knows what you would ask for, but He has so much more. Open the doors of your heart and take Him in. Let him tame that donkey inside you, and show you new things as you turn the pages of His Word. Share your life with him, and let him share the Kingdom of God with you. “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him”. John 6:56 He is the bread of life. Will He be more of who you are today? (Galations 2:20)
