The Donkey is Waiting

The Donkey is Waiting
Words of Faith 2-16-2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2024
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Mark 11
[1] As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, [2] saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. [3] If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.'"
[4] They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, [5] some people standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" [6] They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go.

Mark's Gospel brings us to Jerusalem with stunning swiftness. John's Gospel recounts the entire three years of Jesus' ministry. Luke carefully chronicles the journey and teaching of Jesus through the Jordan Valley and in Perea. Matthew gives many details concerning the fulfillment of prophecy. But Mark brings us quickly, almost abruptly, to the point: Jerusalem.
In Bethphage, so very close to Jerusalem, Jesus made an unusual request. "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.' "
It was surely an embarrassing request to fulfill. Yet the colt was not an unimportant part of the story. In fact, Jesus needed to enter Jerusalem in a way that would fulfill prophetic Scripture. It was the means of acquiring the colt, which was unusual. It was not to be purchased. We are not aware of any prior arrangement. They were simply to take it. But when the two disciples obeyed, they found this reassuring truth: God controls even the smallest details. Even the donkey was ready and waiting.
Do you ever find yourself wondering if that is true? Is God really concerned with my life? Is God really watching over the details? During this last week of Jesus's earthly ministry, the disciples would need plenty of reassurance. Very soon, things would appear to go terribly wrong and seem to careen out of control. But God was still in control. He always is.
The truth is that God still calls disciples to be obedient, even in matters that do not appear to make sense. No, there is no universal call to collect unattended donkeys. But there is a need for us to listen to His specific call. Jesus may ask us to do things that are puzzling. Jesus may ask us to give explanations that seem illogical. Jesus may ask us to trust Him in situations that could cause us to look pretty silly. We may wonder if He is really in control, but obedience will always have this reward. This is the life of a disciple. Listen. Trust Him. Obey Him. The donkey is waiting, just as He said.

Lord, I am listening. Whisper to me this day Your will, and I will obey. Give me the courage to do Your bidding. Give me the grace to give testimony to You. Give me the faith I need to trust wholly in You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2024 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.