Be aware, my dear friends, as you are standing on holy ground; by the end of this chapter, Jesus will have arrived in Jerusalem. . .

the beginning of the end and the beginning of so much more.

Today's Scripture reading: Luke 19.1-10 Today's inspiration: "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19.10

Good Morning!

? 'Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he, he climbed up in a sycamore tree for the Lord He wanted to see. And as the Savior passed that way, He looked up in the tree, and He said, "Zacchaeus, you come down, for I'm going to your house to stay. . ."' I was probably all of three years old when I started singing that song, complete with the hand motions. Forty-five years later, I am thinking about the theological implications of that short guy climbing up in the tree. This weekend, I was walking my favorite little friend, Missy, and thinking about the verb "see" and how many times we have used some form of it in the last week. We had the self-righteous Pharisee, praying in the temple, who could not 'see' his own sin, though he could 'see' the lowly state of the tax collector--meanwhile, the tax collector could clearly 'see' that he needed God's mercy and asked for it. We had the rich young ruler who could not 'see' past his possessions to the eternal value of following Jesus, and we 'saw' that while it was his treasure that was his first priority, we too often let other things eclipse God in our lives as well. Then there was the blind beggar, who cried out to Jesus for his 'sight', and unlike the rich man, as soon as he 'saw' Jesus, he began following Him. And now we have this man, Zacchaeus--a wealthy tax collector, who wanted to 'see' Jesus so much he climbed up in a tree. . . and then, it was Jesus who 'saw' him, and Zacchaeus' life was changed forever.

Like God had done in the Old Testament many times, calling those He would use out by name, "Abraham. . . Moses. . . Isaiah. . . Jeremiah. . . ," Jesus looked away from those with whom He was walking, and sought out one, and called him by name--'Zacchaeus, come on down, I want to go to your house with you today.' Interestingly, you would think that Zach had been expecting Jesus' notice of him, for he did not seem caught off guard or put on the spot; instead, he immediately responded. While 'the people'--dang, who were these people?--criticized Jesus. They were always around, read to decry the activities of the Son of God. 'Hey, people, would we have been different?' I wonder. These people wanted to keep Jesus in a box, and let Him perform only as it would fit their paradigm. Do you and I do that, or do we let God be creative--wild even?

Jesus invites Himself to Zacchaeus' house--the only recorded time He does that--so Zacchaeus, who was just hoping to catch a 'glimpse' of Jesus, is now going to meet with Him face-to-face. (i love that)

The text tells us that the people began to mutter--this is the same verb used in Numbers 11--when Moses recorded the Israelites' murmuring in the desert; these people began to murmur because Jesus was going to the home of this well-known, disliked sinner. Clearly, 'seeing' Jesus impacts Zacchaeus so greatly that he offers up restitution and more. . . for any 'cheating' he has done. Jesus, seeing Zacchaeus' heart, assures him that 'salvation has come to this house.' And to all who were listening, Jesus proclaims, 'The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.' That day, the lost was found; and two-thousand years later, the lost are still being found.

'The people' sure didn't want Jesus to spend time with 'sinners'-- do you think they missed the point? It is the sinner who is in need of a Savior, isn't it? So, how do you feel about 'the lost'? Do you concern yourself with those you know who are far from God? Do you pray for them? Do you share with them, or can you not be bothered? Or are you afraid they will reject you or at least, what you have to say? Just a few short chapters back, Luke 15, Jesus gives us three stories about something that was 'lost' being found, in an effort to illustrate just how important 'the lost' are to His heart. ? Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.? And Jesus said that there is joy in Heaven--a celebration, really--when even one 'lost' one comes home. . . hmmm. . . makes me think of another song--? When we all get to Heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be. . .?

May you SEE Jesus today. . .

(and help someone else see Him too)

Christie