Why Did Jesus Ask for Two Donkeys?

Jesus told two of His disciples, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me” (Matt. 21:2). Wait a minute. Why did Jesus need two donkeys? He intended to ride the young colt into Jerusalem. The colt had never been ridden on (Luke 19:30), and the mother donkey would come along to keep her offspring calm.

When He rode into Jerusalem, it was to announce He was their long-awaited Messiah and to fulfill a prophecy given 500 years earlier: “Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt” (Zech. 9:9).

Jesus rode on the young colt, and the mother donkey may have walked next to them. He didn’t come riding on a white horse, like a king coming to conquer. To signify He was coming in peace, the Prince of Peace humbly rode on a small donkey. That would be like the President of the United States riding on a tricycle in his Inaugural Parade.

The multitudes spread garments and palm branches on the road, while crying out, “Hosanna . . . Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” (Matt. 21:9). Jesus was their King, but He explained, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). He wasn’t going to overthrow Rome and sit on an earthly throne, but would be dying for the sins of the world.

In a few days, the same crowd that cried “Hosanna!” (which means “Save now!”) would be yelling “Crucify Him!” The next time He comes, He won’t ride on a donkey. He will be on a white horse to judge the world (Rev. 19:11).

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Making Life Count Ministries
P.O. Box 680174
Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174
www.makinglifecount.net   

Making the First Move in Peacemaking

A bully approached a little boy. The boy was scared he was about to get beaten up, so he quickly drew a line in the sand. He told the bully, “Step across that line.” The bully stepped over it. With a grin on his face the little boy said, “Now we’re both on the same side!”

Jesus said, “Make friends quickly with your opponent at law, while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge …and you be thrown in prison” (Matt. 5:25). We are usually too slow in resolving conflict, which allows strained relationships to fester and creates painful consequences. Jesus said to make peace with your enemy “quickly” to prevent something worse that could happen to you.  

You might be reluctant to make the first move to reconcile, but God will bless the one who makes the first move in peacemaking. You step over the line—not to fight, but to make peace. “If possible, so far as it depends upon you, be at peace with all men” (Rom. 12:18). Many times reconciliation is not possible, but God says to make an attempt.

If your attempt fails, you can still have peace of mind because you obeyed God, even if your enemy won’t accept you. Sometimes your attempt to make peace will break down the wall of enmity. You may never be reconciled with someone refuses to work out differences. However, your attempt can ease the tensions of a strained relationship, and might even soften your enemy’s heart. 

Imagine if you were “both on the same side.” It might even bring a grin to your face.

www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  www.makinglifecount.net

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Making Life Count Ministries
P.O. Box 680174
Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174
www.makinglifecount.net  

Dog Thoughts vs. Human Thoughts

Years ago, I had a dog with an IQ 1, maybe 2. Sometimes he would look at me and tilt his head as if he were trying to figure out what I was thinking. But there’s no way that he could read my mind because human thoughts are higher than dog thoughts.

If I read my dog Bandit every book in my library, it would have been a waste of time. If I opened the hood of my car and explained to him how to repair the engine, he would comprehend nothing. Humans have a much higher level of knowledge and understanding than dogs, and sending him to Harvard wouldn’t do anything to increase his IQ.

Just as people are much smarter than dogs, God is infinitely wiser and more intelligent than any human on earth. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa. 55:8-9)

How does God guide two people, who don’t know they are being led, to meet at a certain place and eventually get married? How does God answer our prayers at just the right time? We aren’t capable of understanding how He does this any more than Bandit understands how to read a book or repair a car. 

God is able to do far beyond all that we are able to ask or even think (Eph. 3:20). Stop trying to figure out how God will answer your prayer or meet your needs. You won’t be able to do it. Instead, just trust that He knows and is able to make it happen.
www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  www.makinglifecount.net
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Making Life Count Ministries
P.O. Box 680174
Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174
www.makinglifecount.net  

Making a Name for Yourself

After graduating from high school, James Dobson arrived on the campus of Point Loma College for his freshman year. He walked into the administration building and saw a large trophy case, with a two-foot-high tennis trophy prominently displayed in the center. Engraved on the shaft were the names of all the collegiate tennis champions back to 1947.

As he stood before the historic trophy, he said to himself, “Someday I’m going to add my name to the list of legends.” Becoming the college tennis champ was his highest goal in life at that time. Nothing mattered to him more than that. Dobson lettered in tennis all four years, and just as he dreamed, his name was inscribed on the big trophy. He was happy to know that future generations of students would stand at that display case and read his name on it.

Fifteen years later, he received a phone call from a friend who had visited the college. By chance he found the tennis trophy that had Dobson’s name engraved on it in the dumpster! The athletic department decided to get rid of the less significant trophies to make room for their new displays. That trophy, which meant so much to him, was now just a piece of junk no one wanted. Dr. Dobson concluded, “If you live long enough, life will trash your trophies.” (James Dobson, Life on the Edge, 59-61)  

Many people want to make a name for themselves so they’ll always be remembered. But the fact is, not long after you die, no one will even remember that you lived on this planet. “For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise man as with the fool, inasmuch as in the coming days all will be forgotten” (Eccl. 2:16). Instead of living to glorify your name, live to glorify God’s name. “The world is passing away…but the one who does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:17).

No one will remember you after you die, but if you’ll live to please the Lord, He will remember your name throughout eternity.

www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  www.makinglifecount.net

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BIBLE STUDY: Why do the gospels list different names for the disciples?

Making Life Count Ministries
P.O. Box 680174
Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174
www.makinglifecount.net 

Making Plans

When President Ronald Reagan was a boy, his aunt took him to a cobbler to have some shoes made. The shoemaker asked young Ronald, “Do you want a square toe or a round toe?” Reagan couldn’t decide, so the cobbler told him to come back later.

Two days later he told the shoemaker he still hadn’t made up his mind. “Very well,” the cobbler replied. 

When Reagan picked up his shoes, one shoe had a square toe and the other a round one. “Looking at those shoes every day taught me a lesson,” Reagan said years later. “If you don't make your own decisions, someone else will make them for you.”

 If you don’t make plans for your life, someone else will. Without plans you’ll bounce around like a ball in a pinball machine, reacting to every circumstance until you run out of energy. Suppose you’re on a cruise ship and ask the captain, “When do we plan to arrive?”

He answers, “Plans? I don’t make plans. I just trust God to control the waves and guide the boat to the right destination.” Some people drift through life that way. They float around like a rudderless ship, hoping they’ll drift to the right dock.

However, God’s guidance includes making plans. “The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Prov. 16:9). Once you have prayerfully made your plans, commit them to the Lord. “Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established” (Prov. 16:3). www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  www.makinglifecount.net  

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BIBLE STUDY: What is the Q Document?

Making Life Count Ministries
P.O. Box 680174
Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174
www.makinglifecount.net