Warriors Arise: January 24, 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.”
Some of us would be ecstatic to be able to tell the tale that Jesus looked up and saw us. But then to have Jesus speak! That is over-the-top! Remember, Zacchaeus sought to see how Jesus was. He wasn't out to have a conversation with Him. He was out to see who He was, what kind of a person does the things he has heard He has done, what must He look like. Maybe Zacchaeus didn't weave through the crowd, because if he was that man, they were all flocking to, he would not have allowed anyone near him. If this Jesus, is that important and can do all the things he had heard, then who would be permitted to be near him? If this was the case, then no matter if he reached Jesus, he wouldn't be able to get through the body guards.
But Jesus came to the place where Zacchaeus was perched in a tree, looked up, saw him and then spoke to him. Since Zacchaeus was a man of short statue, no one had looked up to him. He was always looking up to everyone else. Now, Jesus was looking up and speaking to him. Jesus acknowledged him. It wasn't just a head nod. Jesus spoke to him.
This is one of those moments where you will tell people, "I would do it all again." I would run and climb that tree every day if it meant Jesus would see me, look at me and speak to me. Would you?
Do you remember the last time Jesus looked at you? When did He speak to you? Have you been back to that place? Did you climb that tree? Maybe it isn't a physical location. Maybe it is that you put the effort into meeting with Jesus. You stopped where you were going and put on hold what you had to do in order to position yourself to see Jesus. Because there is a good chance you will hear Him speak to you.
Father, Your love is overwhelming. I put in such little effort. Basically, I have to stop what I am doing and look for You. I wait for You to come and prepare myself to listen. I ask for a passion to see You, to drive me everyday to position myself in Your presence. You are faithful to come. Your kindness sees me. Your eyes of courage look into me. Your desire to teach me wisdom and truth cause You to speak. I will seek You. I will watch You. I will listen when You speak in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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