Luke 19: 28-42 Response

Greg’s sermon on Sunday focused on Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday (Luke 19: 28-42). He was coming as a king in “triumphant humility” to bring peace. Jesus’ tears, as he looked down on Jerusalem along the way, signaled his love for the lost and his recognition of what it would cost to win reconciliation for them with God the Father. Greg reassured us that “Jesus is the means of peace with God” and challenged us to trust in God even when life brings unexpected trouble and hardship. He asked, “Can we say ‘No matter what happens, my king will take care of me’?”

My answer to that question is that I want to believe that all the time but sometimes I’m not quite sure. I’ve prayed for the faith and strength I’ll need to always trust God’s care but I have not been tested in the same way as some of my friends, such as the Evans family or my three friends who are undergoing cancer treatments right now.

I watched the Boston Marathon on TV on Monday and there was a lot of talk about training properly for the long race. That made me think about the training I’ve received in following Jesus and trusting in God’s plan and care for me. Time spent reading the Bible and other Christian books, discussing them with friends at Bible studies and home groups, listening to sermons and personal stories of God’s faithfulness, praying alone and with others, and thinking often about living in God’s strength and under his care, taking note of his grace in my life andthe life of my family can all be viewed as training and preparation for whatever God has in store for me tomorrow or next year. My road ahead may be bumpy (we all can expect at least that) or it may take a shocking detour. I don’t know if I will always fully believe that “no matter what happens, my king will take care of me.” But I’m committed to training for it, practicing faith and trust in the smaller things and asking God for the faith, courage and strength I’ll need to say it every day for the rest of my life, even when I face big, unexpected trials.

Hebrews 12:1-2 came to mind when I was thinking about this. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” To do this we need training partners, so to speak, to encourage and equip each other to trust God in all areas of our lives. Will we also join the “cloud of witnesses” and remind each other that God is faithful and will take care of us no matter what? Let’s try!

~ Cindy Fitzgerald