December 24, 2019
2 Peter 2:16
But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.
New International Version (NIV)
Dr. John Davidson, my professor at Baylor preached at my little church out in the country.  This Ph. D. in the Psychology of Religion connected with the crowd by telling this story:  On the way to church today my wife and I had a disagreement.  We were so mad we drove silently down Highway 77.  Then I saw a donkey in the field and decided to lighten things up.  I said, “Some of your kinfolk?”  My wife said, “Yes.  The donkey is kin to me.  By marriage.”  The congregation listened closely to everything else he said. 

The Bible tells donkey stories.  Kings and their sons rode donkeys in the Old Testament.  We envision Joseph and Mary riding a donkey into Bethlehem.  Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem in the Triumphal entry. 

My favorite donkey story is the story of Balaam, the Moabite prophet for hire who contracted to curse the Israelites.  Like Mr. Ed on my childhood T. V., his donkey could talk.  Balaam was bent on rebellion and his donkey was smarter than he.  So the donkey talked to him with a human voice and got his undivided attention.  I wonder what donkeys could teach us today if they talked.

A friend of mine went through a difficult time.  He had made some costly mistakes and he was struggling.  So he decided to go to church.  Wouldn’t you know it, the preacher chose this text for his sermon.  My friend opened the worship guide and saw the sermon title:  “Dumber than a Donkey.”  My friend said, ‘I knew I was in the right place.”  Today he walks closely with God.  We are not kin to Baalam’s donkey but we may be kin to Baalam on a reckless path of rebellion.  Baalam’s donkey still speaks to us.  Are we listening?    
Pray with me:       
Father, speak to us.  We need to hear from you.  Speak through your word.  Speak through your church.  If necessary speak through a donkey.  But don’t let us live lives of reckless rebellion against you.  Get our attention so that we are not dumber than donkeys.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.
This year our Every Day with Jesus readings will follow The Bible Project Read Scripture Plan.  Copies of this reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download 
the app at readscripture.org.  Read through the Bible with us in 2019!
Joyfully, 
Duane 
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