Week of Monday, June 26 – July 2
Following Orders – Man as Chaplain
"Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them." - Matthew 21:1-7 ESV
Following orders was a foundational part of my 36-plus years in the military. In the early years, I was on the receiving end of all the orders. Most of the time, the orders made sense to me. Sometimes, they did not. Later on, as an officer, I was not only on the receiving end of the orders; I also gave them to those under my command. There was an expectation by all parties involved that orders were to be carried out without question. The military could not function otherwise.
The kingdom of God is not unlike the military with respect to orders. Jesus is our King, our Lord, our Master, and He is in command. We are to carry out His orders without question. As Alfred Lord Tennyson famously put it in The Charge of the Light Brigade: “Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die.”
These particular orders from the Lord Jesus might have seemed a bit odd or unusual to the two disciples who received them. What could Jesus want with a donkey and her colt? However, this simple request of Jesus was part of a grand plan that had been set into motion in eternity past—a plan that would do much more than bear the weight of a controversial rabbi from Nazareth and carry him into the city of Jerusalem. This event would play a key role in a moment the prophet Zechariah had foretold nearly 500 years prior. What came next was a moment of Scriptural fulfillment that publicly declared Jesus as the humble King of Zion and promised Messiah, righteous and bringing salvation (see Zech. 9:9)! How amazing is it that following Jesus’ unusual orders helped bring about such a powerful moment in God’s master plan!
As we near the annual celebration of our nation’s independence, we are inspired by the Founding Fathers [LG1] who, with a firm reliance on Divine Providence, mutually pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor for the cause of their nation’s freedom. Obedience almost always comes with a price, and history records for us that these men paid it in many ways. Many lost their homes, several were captured and imprisoned as POWs, some lost their health, others lost their fortunes, and a few lost wives, sons, and daughters. Yet, they stayed true to what they perceived to be God-given mission and mandate.
As men of God, our greatest calling is to obey the orders outlined for us in God’s Word. Partial obedience is not acceptable. Also, don’t allow your flesh to drown out the Spirit by trying to do things your way when you know that God has given you a clear directive. The One who rode into Jerusalem, gave His life on the cross, and rose victorious from the tomb has called us, saved us, and prepared us for a mission, and He expects us to follow His orders with unquestioned obedience. What powerful plan does God have in mind for us that we don’t yet see but hinges onus following His orders? Our families, churches, and nation desperately need godly Chaplains who will model what it is to humbly listen for and faithfully carry out the Lord’s commands. Let’s be those men who salute and follow orders!
Following Orders – Man as Chaplain
"Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them." - Matthew 21:1-7 ESV
Following orders was a foundational part of my 36-plus years in the military. In the early years, I was on the receiving end of all the orders. Most of the time, the orders made sense to me. Sometimes, they did not. Later on, as an officer, I was not only on the receiving end of the orders; I also gave them to those under my command. There was an expectation by all parties involved that orders were to be carried out without question. The military could not function otherwise.
The kingdom of God is not unlike the military with respect to orders. Jesus is our King, our Lord, our Master, and He is in command. We are to carry out His orders without question. As Alfred Lord Tennyson famously put it in The Charge of the Light Brigade: “Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die.”
These particular orders from the Lord Jesus might have seemed a bit odd or unusual to the two disciples who received them. What could Jesus want with a donkey and her colt? However, this simple request of Jesus was part of a grand plan that had been set into motion in eternity past—a plan that would do much more than bear the weight of a controversial rabbi from Nazareth and carry him into the city of Jerusalem. This event would play a key role in a moment the prophet Zechariah had foretold nearly 500 years prior. What came next was a moment of Scriptural fulfillment that publicly declared Jesus as the humble King of Zion and promised Messiah, righteous and bringing salvation (see Zech. 9:9)! How amazing is it that following Jesus’ unusual orders helped bring about such a powerful moment in God’s master plan!
As we near the annual celebration of our nation’s independence, we are inspired by the Founding Fathers [LG1] who, with a firm reliance on Divine Providence, mutually pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor for the cause of their nation’s freedom. Obedience almost always comes with a price, and history records for us that these men paid it in many ways. Many lost their homes, several were captured and imprisoned as POWs, some lost their health, others lost their fortunes, and a few lost wives, sons, and daughters. Yet, they stayed true to what they perceived to be God-given mission and mandate.
As men of God, our greatest calling is to obey the orders outlined for us in God’s Word. Partial obedience is not acceptable. Also, don’t allow your flesh to drown out the Spirit by trying to do things your way when you know that God has given you a clear directive. The One who rode into Jerusalem, gave His life on the cross, and rose victorious from the tomb has called us, saved us, and prepared us for a mission, and He expects us to follow His orders with unquestioned obedience. What powerful plan does God have in mind for us that we don’t yet see but hinges onus following His orders? Our families, churches, and nation desperately need godly Chaplains who will model what it is to humbly listen for and faithfully carry out the Lord’s commands. Let’s be those men who salute and follow orders!
- Have you ever stopped to consider just how important it is for you and your family that you follow God’s orders found in the pages of His Word? Can you look back and see where you missed a blessing or even caused a problem by failing to obey God?
- What steps can you take to make yourself more accountable to the Lord in carrying out His orders?
- Ask God to give you a heart to carry out God’s commands without question, reservation, or hesitation.