April 24, 2019

April 24

Running with Jesus

Luke 19:1-3 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.  And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.

      Here is that wee little man! Ask almost anyone that goes to church who that wee little man in the Bible is and they can tell you quickly, Zaccheaus!  That is the about the depth of Biblical knowledge most Christians have in the church today! 

      I have to plug this in sorry "the Church focus should not be on music but the Word of God!"

      We need to start teaching meditation upon the Word of God. Meditating is a lost art in our churches. I have heard it is expressed like a cow chewing her cud, it goes down and back up into their mouth. When a cow first takes a bite, it chews just enough to moisten the food. It is swallowed, then food goes into the first section of its digestion system where it mixes with other acids and liquids that softened the food. This softened food is called cud, small balls of food.  Cud chewing is indicator of a healthy, happy cow and they will produce more milk or have a higher production of muscle. Animals who do not chew their cud properly may be scared or have digestive issues in the fourth section of their stomach. Supplying high quality feed will help to ensure the cows are digesting and chewing their cud properly.

      For us Christians to be healthy, happy, and content we must learn to meditate!  Meditation brings new insights to text. It has been proven we are healthier with prayer and meditation.

      This story is about a sinner coming to know Jesus.  An amazing man up in a tree looking for Jesus  was the one who Jesus walked up to! Come down, I am going home with you! Zaccheaus and his wife and family were never the same! Someone else despised got saved! Does it not make you want to shout! Wasn't it good he was a wee little man!

       Until we become wee little men we will not be able to see Jesus! What is crowding out your view of Jesus? You say nothing, I say there is something! Why, because you are not climbing up trees and going the extra mile to bring Jesus home with you. I played that game for years! Jesus was left at the church building. I didn't meditate at home so He could not change my soul’s thinking process, which is needed every day!! Moment by moment at times! 

       When a cow loses its cud the digestive system gets all messed up. It is very dangerous to her health! So it is with us when we don't take time to meditate on scripture. Meditating brings it home and you will learn how to live the abundant life that will change you forever. So don't lose your spiritual cud! It is dangerous to your spiritual life. 

 If the cow loses her cud one is made and she is forced to swallow it, so I am forcing one on you today. Read the whole Zaccheaus story and meditate and see if you can look at different things going on in the story. Write it down: who are the people in the story; where are each standing (get up in the tree and look at the story from Zaccheaus view!); turn off your radio or TV and think on the text and see what God will reveal to you. You will be amazed! Meditate!

Use it or lose it. tomorrow!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015