Warriors Arise: February 14, 2022
Luke 19:1-10 (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.”
9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Zacchaeus has a coming to Jesus moment. In that moment when he has a glimpse of Jesus being more than a good man, he calls Him, Lord. He is ready to do his part. He is ready to have his dealings evaluated and names the consequence or what he will do to restore what he has taken. He isn't going to just ask Jesus to take away his wrong. He is going to take his negative, sinful actions and make good on them himself. It didn't even cross his mind to have someone else pay for his sin, his error, or his false accusation, if there was one found. But Jesus extends to him Salvation.
Prov 18:24b (NKJV) But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Jesus is declaring something that really can't happen yet. But all things are possible with God. When He says, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost”, He has found one lost sheep who is willing to come into the flock. He has found Zacchaeus, one who is willing to allow himself, his ways to be checked. He vows that if he owes anyone anything because of false accusation, he will make restitution. He understands what Jesus is about to do for all mankind. The understanding of what Salvation offers, and Zacchaeus understands. Jesus is the one to rescue him and pay the price for his sin. Zacchaeus is taking care of what he might have done to another person and Jesus will take care of his sin against God.
We like the idea of God clearing us of our sin. We like to think we do not have to make things right with others when we have sinned against them. But Jesus didn't tell Zacchaeus he didn't have to restore fourfold what he wrongfully took. Now that Zacchaeus was prepared to make things right on his end, Jesus extended salvation to him from His end. Zacchaeus would restore to others and Jesus would restore him to God.
Have you wondered why you don't feel like you have been forgiven for your sin? Why it still haunts you? Why you keep thinking about what you did? Maybe there has been so much time you have forgotten what you did to the other person, but you know the relationship is unstable. Time does not heal all wounds. Jesus heals all wounds. When we will make things right, seek forgiveness, and give what is necessary to bring about restoration; then we understand the necessity of what Jesus had to do to make restitution for our sin. Jesus loved us with His life, with His blood He healed us, with His life he rescued us from the hands of the tormentor, and with His everlasting life, He gives us hope for our eternity. Love is spoken by one laying His life down for His friends. Jesus is our friend who gives us the opportunity to be saved.
Father, thank you for Your amazing love! Thank you for teaching us what we need to be responsible for and what Jesus has done to open the door for salvation to come into our lives. I pray You would come and remind me of anything I need to make right with another. When Zacchaeus speaks it is as if he doesn't know if he sinned, but he is willing to be searched, have his records searched and if something is found he is going to go above and beyond to make it right. I ask for that kind of willingness in my heart and fortitude in my mind. I want to make things right with others. Bring to mind specific things I have done that have cheated people out of their value, time, or opportunities. I submit to You. Teach me how to bring restoration for what I done. Give me courage to restore those I have cheated in any way in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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