Daily Reading: Mark 11
Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’ (Mark 11.2-3)
Devotional Thought: How did Jesus enter Jerusalem? Yes, I know - he was riding on a borrowed donkey. But how specifically did he do it?
Did he do it “divinely”? Did he predestine that the owners of the colt would unknowingly tie it in just the right spot at just the right time? Did he make those same owners predisposed to be understanding and forgiving? That is a possibility isn’t it? Yes, but there is another possibility.
Did Jesus "humanly" prearrange to have the colt ready? Had he personally met with its owners? Were they people he had knew before? Had they together decided that this is where they would tie the colt and this is the signal that these men were sent by him? That is a possibility, too, isn’t it?
We can't be certain whether Jesus prearranged it “divinely” or “humanly,” but we clearly see that he had prepared for it to happen. He wanted his disciples to accomplish the work he had given them. He wanted them to be successful in their mission! The same is true for you and me. When Jesus gives us a job, he goes before us to ensure that we are successful. He does that “divinely” through the work of the Holy Spirit, and he does it “humanly” through us and others who prayerfully make plans and set the stage.
Remember, whatever God has given you to do, you can do it with confidence for he has gone before you and prepared the way. Also, learn this about preparation: you don't need to be afraid of it. It is a spiritual thing to prepare! Since God prepares, we can too!
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for being a God who is not surprised. You prepared a place for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. You prepared a way for the Israelites in the desert. You prepared the way for Jesus to come - to Bethlehem and to Jerusalem. And, you are preparing a way for me. I follow you with confidence, O Lord. Help me to be prepared!
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 7.6-13
6 Arise, O LORD, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies; awake for me; you have appointed a judgment.
7 Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you; over it return on high.
8 The LORD judges the peoples; judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me.
9 Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous-- you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God!
10 My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.
12 If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow;
13 he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts.
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