Fixed Heart
The Triumphal Entry
1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."
4This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5"Say to the Daughter of Zion,
'See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' "[a]
6The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
"Hosanna[b] to the Son of David!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"[c]
"Hosanna[d] in the highest!"
10When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"
11The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."
Tommy's Thoughts:
The crowd who welcomed Jesus’ triumphant entry in Jerusalem, are the same people who deserted Him in just few more days. It’s easy sometimes for us to joyfully and publicly proclaim our faith and belief in Christ as our Lord of lords and King of kings when things are fine and smooth-going. Like the crowd, our joyful hope and anticipation may abruptly come to an end when we are pressured by people and situation.
We need to guard ourselves from shallow and superficial acclaim for Christ. To abide in Christ means to persistently choose to trust Him and live by Him despite our circumstances. It’s a definite act of will, and of real, fixed, steadfast trust in Christ. David says, "My heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord" (Psalm 112:7). We begin by determining, choosing and fixing our hearts to obey Him no matter what it costs.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your grace that eternally secure me in Your loving arms. From You alone, I receive true joy, flowing up from deep within, nourishing and sustaining me through thick and thin, good and bad. Turn my eyes back to You whenever I am being distracted by those things that are temporary and fleeting. As I open my heart to You Lord, come in and stay forever with me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Bee's Thoughts:
To me, a donkey signifies stubbornness. So Jesus was sitting on a 'stubborn' animal. It also means that even though a donkey may be stubborn it still can be used by Jesus.
I think sometimes I am as stubborn as a donkey. But somehow when it comes to Jesus, all my stubborness seems melting away.
Dear Jesus,
Thank You that love melts away my stubborness. Help me to always obey Your will and do the things that will bring glory to You just like when You were riding on the donkey.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
