Warriors Arise: January 29, 2022
Luke 19:1-5 (NKJV) Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”
As we are preparing for people to come stay at our house this afternoon, there is a lot of "to do" happening. It wasn't a normal cleaning, because we still had to get down our Christmas decorations. I love to keep our Christmas decorations up longer than most. It helps me see Christmas as more than the miraculous choice Christ made to come to earth. He chose to live as a human in perfect relationship with His Father. He chose to sacrifice Himself for us, each one of us, no matter what our sin. He died for each one. He chose to knock on hell's door and lead His people out of darkness and into heaven. He chose to walk again on earth. His love for us began centuries before He was born of a virgin. I like the time to dwell on this long after the Christmas season is over for most.
Do you wonder if Zacchaeus had hope in his heart that Jesus would spend time with him, come to his house, stay with him? What a shocker for Jesus to say, "...for today I must stat at your house." If the people I have invited today would have shown up a day early, of my goodness, I would have been completely humbled. I would not have been prepared, they could have written their name in the dust on my entertainment center, and I would not have wanted them to ask to see all my Christmas decorations; because then they would have seen every unkept part of my house. Trust me when I say, my house is not perfectly clean, but a little dusting, floor sweeping, carpet vacuuming and toilet cleaning can at least make them feel welcomed. Thankfully, the kids all had their duties from putting the Christmas decorations away to cleaning the house and resetting household decor. Yes, I am sure my first thought would be to send someone ahead to tell the kids to get the house ready, because Jesus is coming. I might have even tried to stall Him. Then again, I probably wouldn't have my whits about me. I would have fallen out of the tree under the pressure of his gaze upon me and scrambled to my feet then fall to my knees. I wouldn't have known whether to stand or kneel. Maybe bow or face plant before Him. I hope I would have responded quickly and with some sort of grace, honor and reverence toward Him. However, when the Lord passes by and stops to tell you He is coming to your house today, that is like a guest coming a day early. You knew they were coming, but you were not prepared for them.
Maybe this interruption was exactly what Zacchaeus needed. He needed to be put on the spot, laid bare before the Lord, with exactly how he lived life every day. Oh the anxiety when someone says they are coming to your house today and you weren't expecting them.
Father, so many times I position myself before You. I lay myself down and seek Your face. I desire to hear Your voice and am in awe when You speak my name. I will listen when You call to me. I will respond as You say. I will not put off until tomorrow what You would have for me today. I bless Your name and seek to encounter You even if You arrive a day early, ben if You say You are going to come to my place. You coming to may place reveals my heart, my livelihood, and who I am. I will do as You say. I will come down with haste and take You to my house in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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