JESUS and Zacchaeus:
He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who JESUS was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was about to pass that way. And when JESUS came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the LORD, “Behold, LORD, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And JESUS said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” -Luke 19:1-10
The story of JESUS and Zacchaeus should give anyone hope! We find out real quickly that Zacchaeus was indeed a tax collector, but only in part, because he had also been doing alot of behind the scenes work too. We should know that not only was he was over taxing the people during his time, but he had also been taking money that was not rightfully his! So Zacchaeus was a thief too! Yet JESUS still pursued him, but apparently before JESUS could even get to HIM, GOD had already been working on his heart! GOD always pursues who HE loves! GOD always pursues who HE calls HIS!
While we may not be able to fully identify ourselves with Zacchaeus, but our story is special because its who we were before JESUS which is still identical to that of the tax collector. Perhaps we may have been like Peter instead, who was the one that denied JESUS? Or maybe we can identify ourself as King David, who got caught in the adulterous affair? Maybe we can relate to the woman at the well? Or maybe our heart had been hardened for a time, much like Paul, before the transformation began in CHRIST! Could it be that we are more like ‘doubting Thomas’ within our own faith, especially when it’s being tested through the fire, and maybe more than we’re really willing to admit? Or, are we too much like Martha at times, always worrying about the details of everything and not spending enough time pursing GOD’s presence? Whoever we relate ourselves to, and I’m sure that we can find at least somebody from the Bible that we can identify ourselves with, and maybe too many of them in small ways, but whoever it is, or wherever we are within our walk with the LORD, remember GOD still longs for us to pursue HIM!
Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!-Psalm 139:7-8
The Bible reveals the truth of all of who GOD is. GOD’S views on sin is still the very same, because HIS Word says that never does HE ever change!-(see Numbers 23:19; Hebrews 13:8, James 1:17.) So GOD sees sin the very same, meaning that no matter what the sin is, it is still sin in HIS eyes. No person’s sins are any less than anyone else’s, because sin is sin, regardless of how much or how less and no sin can be in the presence of GOD!—2 Corinthians 6:14-18
GOD already gave HIS all, because HE gave us JESUS! His one and only Son who came here not only to save us, but to be set free from any strongholds from sin’s clutches- please refer to John 3:16,John 8:12, John 12:46, and Acts 26:18. So every single person living on the face of this planet was created by GOD, (despite how science tries prove that otherwise.) We were created by GOD for HIS glory, and we have a set appointed time for when our time on earth will end. Unless JESUS’S return happens before that time, we will most assuredly face death. Either way it happens, we will all face GOD and we will all have to give an account for who we were here, and what we did with our time, and the faith HE distributed, and the gifts that HE gave too. Believe this or not, but we will give an answer to GOD even for who we voted for and why. Yes we will give an account for every single thing we ever done here.-(see Matthew 25:14-30, for the parable of the three servants, also see 2 Corinthians 5:10)
There’s not going to be any kind of justifying sin with GOD either! You can be for sure about that, because it is true, and not because I said it. My words do not validate that, only GOD’S Word speaks the truth!
The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But He loves one who pursues righteousness.-Proverbs 15:9
If we’re not pursuing GOD’s presence, then who/what are we pursuing? What are we doing with our time? GOD is not calling us to perfection, but HE is calling us to be Holy.-1 Peter 1:16. How is it possible to be Holy if we’re not pursuing GOD? How can we say that we love GOD truly, if we’re not making time for HIM?
HIS Word says: “Remain in ME” and if we do that, the rest of the verse says: HE will remain in us.-John 15:4. We as human beings make time for what we want to do here. This is absolutely so human too, but yet still sinful too. GOD doesn’t mind it that we do things either, but where on the list of our priorities is GOD? Don’t put GOD on the back burner. Make it a point to pursue HIM. There is nothing better than being in HIS presence!
❤️ Shellie Maheu
My daily CHRISTIAN walk 