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OUR DAILY BREAD             Tuesday, July 25, 1995    
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READ:   Matthew 21:1-11 
 
         
                  DEDICATED DONKEY WORK 
 
     "Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, 
                 and sitting on a donkey." 
 
                                - Matthew 21:5 
 
People often speak of donkeys in belittling terms.  
You may have heard the expression, "I'm just someone 
who has to do all the donkey work."  Or "So-and-so 
is as stubborn as a mule" (a mule is half donkey). 
 
These sayings overlook the contributions of a truly 
valuable animal.  Donkeys have served the human  
race for thousands of years.  They were once prized 
as symbols of humility, gentleness, and peace. 
 
In Bible days, donkeys that had never been ridden 
were regarded as especially suitable for religious 
purposes.  So it was most fitting that Jesus sent 
for a colt to perform the royal task of carrying 
Him into Jerusalem.  How enviable was that donkey's 
mission!  How like our mission as Jesus' followers! 
 
A missionary in China calls herself "the Lord's  
donkey."  She's a humble believer, "carrying" her  
Lord faithfully into town after town and training 
others to do likewise.  The Lord has need of many 
such "donkeys" in today's world, humble people who 
will carry Him into their Jerusalem and make Him 
known. 
 
Just as the donkey was untied for use by Jesus 
(Mark 11:4-5), we too must be released from worldly  
attachments so we can serve Christ.  Are we willing 
to do donkey work? 
                                -- Joanie E. Yoder 
 
        Teach me to do the humble task 
             The very best I can, 
       And not to look for greater calls 
          Which may oppose Thy plan. 
 
                                -- Bernheisel 
 
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             THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 
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        Humble work becomes holy work 
           when it's done for God. 
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THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Song of Solomon 1-4

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