What I learned today from Zacchaeus

 

Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “Hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” (Luke 19)

 

Can you hear Jesus saying that to you? “Come down from all the big important things that occupy your life, your thoughts, and energy. Come down and receive me into your thoughts and your daily life. Let’s have breakfast together. Let’s have coffee, just you and me.”

 

Zacchaeus saw the invitation more clearly than I often do. I am inclined to hear something about religious duty. Zacchaeus heard an invitation from the most amazing and exciting person in his world.

 

I must understand who is calling me to come down. Then like Zacchaeus I will receive him joyfully.

 

The people standing around saw all this and they were critical because they condemned Zacchaeus outright. Therefore, if Jesus would associate with him, he was suspect also.

 

Zacchaeus, aware of this condemnation, saw a way to repent and promised to give half of his wealth to the poor and to return double to anyone he had cheated.

 

Jesus answered him saying, “Today salvation has come to this house… For the son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost.” 

 

When I was baptized at 12 years old, I had no idea of what sin was or how I was guilty. I was told that if I became a Christian, I wouldn’t have to go to Hell and I could go to heaven. That was all I understood.

 

Sin didn’t mean much; repentance didn’t mean anything. Hell was really hot and Heaven was really nice, sort of like southern California, without smog and a lot like Disneyland. It was a no-brainer. 

 

Now I see that, for salvation to truly happen in my life, I must become aware of the sin in my life and find the way to repent.

Temtation, Sin, and Forgiveness

 

I have read and reread Luke 17 many times in different translations and today I saw something I don’t think I had ever noticed before. Jesus is talking to the disciples about temptation, sin and forgiveness. In verse 4 he says something that really took me off guard. Speaking of my brother sinning and repenting, Jesus says;

 

  and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him."

 

 Please note that this is for Disciples. Jesus simply said, “if he turns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’” All he has to do is say ‘I repent’. I want some evidence of repentance. Surely, he must do more than just mouth some words. Jesus says all he has to do is say, ‘I repent’, and then he says you must forgive him.

 

How often have I gone to my Father and said, “I’m sorry, please forgive me,” only to turn around and do the same thing again? Our perfect God and heavenly Father is everlastingly merciful, and Jesus tells us to be perfect as our heavenly father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)

 

Just another lesson in becoming like Jesus.

Eager to Enter the Kingdom?

 

"The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.”

I came across these words of Jesus in Luke 16:16 this morning and it caused me to wonder how many actually are forcing their way into the kingdom of God. In the New Living Translation, “it says everyone is eager to get in.”

I think of times when I was pretty young and I was going to go hunting or fishing with my dad. I was up and dressed by 5:00 in the morning with no complaining. One time, while Jeannie and I were traveling, it was the last leg of our trip and we woke up at 3:00 and couldn’t get back to sleep. We were eager to get there.

Is everyone really eager to get into the kingdom of God. Are you eager enough to get up a little early to meet with God before you head off for your day? What are you truly eager for?

What Does That Mean? How Does That Work?

 

What does that mean? How does that work? Sometimes it feels like I am the only one who thinks of these questions. Christianity is a religion of many languages and many more vague phrases and words.

Recently I tried to re-establish communication with a brother from a group where we used to fellowship. He and his family has also left that group. During our short exchange of messages back and forth, he asked me if I was interested in, or practiced sanctification. There is one of those words that seems to have different meanings in different Christian circles. I told him I wasn’t sure what he meant by the word sanctification and that I would be very interested to have him share his understanding. I didn’t hear back from him.

Most Christians seem quite content with vague understandings of Christian terms that have little or no use outside of religious application. A good example is the word grace. Even respected Christian teachers will tell you that grace is when God gives us something we don’t deserve. What does that mean? How does that work?

I have contributed to this blog since 2009 and written over 200 articles. Of all those articles, the one article that has gotten the most attention is an article I wrote back in 2013. Although it is over 7 years old, it still gets more views than any other. “Grace: The divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life” has been viewed 419 times which is more than twice as many times as any other article. That seems to indicate to me that there is an interest in discovering a useful meaning for that word.

Think about the words you use. Can you offer a clear definition of what they mean to you? Can you illustrate how they work? Whether we agree on the exact meaning of the word is not as important as our being able to express clearly what we mean when we use a word. So that me might at least understand what is being said. Agreeing is nice too but not always possible.

Brothers and sisters, we need to communicate. And we need to understand what we are saying in order for real communication to happen. If I ask you, “What does that mean?” “How does that work?” I am not challenging you, I want to understand what you mean.

 

Be Faithful.

Rick

Naked

 

Sitting on the toilet this morning in my birthday suit, I began praying. All of a sudden, I thought of the picture I was presenting to God. I quieted my prayer and listened. It came into my mind, as if from God, “you are always naked before me to the very center of your being.”

 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:13)

Thinking about this, I realized that God is not embarrassed to look at me and he doesn’t turn away. So often when I see someone in what I consider a shameful condition or someone with a severe visible handicap I look away. God sees all that I am and He doesn’t turn away. Rather He loves me and reaches out to offer me help to become what he longs for me to become.

 Our High Priest is not one who cannot feel sympathy for our weaknesses. On the contrary, we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin. Let us have confidence, then, and approach God's throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it. (Hebrews 4:15-16 Good News Bible)

 

What is your Practice #1

What is your Practice? What activity do you actively, regularly do to help you draw closer to God? There are a few things that I have done over the years and even more recently that I am finding helpful for my spiritual development.

I think that the first thing I would like to share is the practice of journaling. I have written in journals for many years. I think that, even though we have moved too many times, I could still find a notebook that I used in Viet Nam over 50 years ago.

It may be good to mention that I don’t think you have to journal in order to be growing spiritually. I am only sharing what has helped me and a little of how it has helped me.

Journals like the proverbial diary are very personal. This is a place where I can put all of my thoughts on paper and look at them. Sometimes this is definitely not something I want others seeing. But it can be very helpful in really seeing what I am thinking and in coming to actions necessary to improve situations.

In my journaling in recent years I have tried to start my journal entries with at least three statements of thanks. I usually address these to my Father in Heaven. This practice has helped me to appreciate things that I had not considered blessings. This has included big things like a healthy new baby and little things like hot coffee. It has also come to include things that we don’t often think of, like the loss of a loved one or a financial setback. There are many scriptures to support this but just one is 1st Thessalonians 5:18.

Journaling has also been very helpful in better understanding of God’s will. Many times, when I have a question or a problem about what to do or what a scripture means, I will write the question in my journal and as I am writing the question, I begin to understand the answer. Then I write the answer that I see, so that I can pray about that.

These are just a few of the benefits that I have found, journaling. I hope you will think about it and see if it is not a tool or practice that might be helpful for you.

Journalers please comment.

Be Faithful, Rick