Warriors Arise: February 11, 2022
Luke 19:1-8 (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.” 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” 8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”
Again, I wonder what they were talking about between verse 7 and 8. What is being talked about or things we see often provoke our thought patterns and actions to follow. Zacchaeus stands and calls out to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor"… Were they discussing the poverty in Jericho? Had they been discussing how many people looked as if they needed fed or clothes or hadn't slept in a descent bed in years? In so many cities they had experienced people needing miracles physically. The lame to walk, the blind to see, the lepers made clean, and the dead made to live. But here, it would seem they might have been seeing a different need. We do not see that Jesus did any miracles while in Jericho, this time. We have maybe discovered why Jesus went to Zacchaeus' house.
When He walked through Jericho, people crowded around Him. Since He wasn't doing any miracles. He might have been asking the Father, "What am I to do? What is the need here?"
Sometimes there can be a shift. We can get used to do things the same way and expect God to use us the same way He always has. Jesus was known for healing all who came to Him, but Luke, a doctor, does not record that He healed anyone in Jericho at this time. Maybe it was just a given, of course, Jesus healed everyone. So maybe Luke wanted to highlight a shift.
After Jesus delivered the demoniac, he had asked to come with Jesus. But, He told him to stay and tell everyone what the Lord had done. He left 1 man who was delivered of a 1,000 demons to remain behind and be His witness to 10 cities. Jesus had crossed the sea for one man, the demoniac. The people had asked Jesus to leave, because they were afraid of His power.
We know Jesus chose Zacchaeus, one man from Jericho. What was God's purpose in having Jesus invite Himself and His disciples into Zacchaeus' home? Had Jesus and the disciples been talking about the poverty in Jericho? Had they been talking about seeing the people without homes, no bed to sleep in, no clean clothes, or food for their bodies? Had Jesus selected Zacchaeus because he had made himself available?
I do not know what Jesus and disciples had been discussing. However, I do know God had a plan. He had a plan with Zacchaeus, a tax collector, a rich man of short stature. He was someone the people despised. Yet, that is the very man God highlighted for Jesus to go to his house. God doesn't always use the able, but He will always use the willing. What rich man runs and climbs a sycamore tree? Wouldn't that have been beneath him, even if he was short of stature? God could see something in Zacchaeus. We know in Scripture, God knows the heart and mind of every man. I think God could see Zacchaeus was not like other tax collectors. Maybe he was more like Matthew, one of Jesus' disciples. Maybe he got a bad rap, because of his job; but that did not define who he really was. God saw more in Zacchaeus.
God needed someone who would join Him in this great exploit. We know in Daniel 11:32 the Bible tells us those who know their God will do great exploits. God needed someone who would stay behind and establish taking care of the needs of the poor and Zacchaeus declared such a thing. After hearing Jesus, Zacchaeus makes a declaration to give half of his abundance to the poor. Have I stewarded my money in such a way I could answer that call? Do I need to make a change that my wealth can be positioned to give to the poor?
Father, I pray my heart would be open to being led by what You see. I pray You will use what I have to expand Your kingdom. I pray for freedom in finances and an abundance. You couldn't use the disciples in this area, because they were not making money. They had left their jobs to serve You and learn the ways of Your ministry. We are to be able to have abundance in finances so out of our overflow we can reach those in need. I pray You would bless our finances to abound and overflow. I pray we would strategically use our money to take care of the poor, provide jobs for those who can work, and expand the work of Your kingdom. I ask for wisdom to steward these finances. I pray for wisdom to know which ministries to invest in and which people to help get back on their feet. I pray You would guide and direct the flow of finances in our life. I pray for increase in finances so I can increase my giving to the poor, the widows, and the orphans in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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