Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
THANK. Write down 3-5 things you’re thankful for in the last 24 hours.
WORSHIP. Pick a song from one of our Spotify Playlists and let it play in the background.
READ. Today’s scripture reading is from Mark 11:12-19 (Go Deeper: Isaiah 56:1-8)
THINK. A Thought from Pastor Dave…
Look, we shouldn’t be surprised that Jesus launched a victory parade on a donkey. Prophets talked about this for generations. We hear the Messianic prophecy in places like Genesis 49 and Zechariah 9. “A great king will come in the future, and all nations will bow, and he will put everything right.” But on a donkey? This is the paradox. Jesus is a different kind of king. Can you imagine the closing scene of a movie - with a general leading an army —on a donkey? Or better yet, imagine President Biden arriving at his next White House briefing on a donkey. It wouldn’t happen! Yet this is how Jesus comes, riding like a servant, completely defenseless. Why is he doing this? Because he is showing us the Kingdom. His Kingdom. His Gospel. When Jesus gets angry and goes into the temple to cleanse it, he illustrates the great reversal. The money changers were using God instead of letting God use them. Jesus wouldn’t have it. As pastor and author Tim Keller says, the reversal in the temple is the reason for the reversal on the road. Sin happens when servants put themselves in the place of the King (the temple courts). Salvation happens when the King puts himself in the place of the servant (Jesus on a donkey). Sin . . . this is what’s wrong with the world. It's what causes chaos, isolation, disparity, and even sickness. The symbol of the donkey and the paradoxical nature of the gospel is that you are saved through weakness, not through strength. Every other religion and every other philosophy says that we are saved through strength. And Jesus says . . . No. So as world leaders continue to stand up and speak of their strengths, remember that your most effective leadership, and the way that you can care for your friends and family, will always start with your weakness.
LIVE. One practical way to understand and apply the Bible is the SOS method. Ask…
S: What does this passage say about God, and what does it say about me?
O: What am I being invited to obey?
S: What can I share with those around me?
PRAY. Pray for yourself, a family member, a friend, someone who doesn’t know Jesus, and the nations.
CONNECT. Have a question, prayer request, or story? Connect with Us or reply to this text to let us know.
SHARE. Know someone who would love the Daily Focus? Invite them to text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.
LINKS. Learn more about Fasting over Lent and Easter Events, Experiences and Services at Paradox
Run the race with endurance today, and stay focused on Jesus.
Make it a Great One!