June 11, 2020

June 11

Running with Jesus

 Luke 19: 3-4 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

     Here is our wee little man, Zacchaeus, the most famous and hated Jewish tax collector. Being too short he had to climb a tree to see Jesus because of the crowd.  Now, we may not be too short physically but we may be too short spiritually to see Jesus. Our usual crowd that blocks our view is our life circumstances that are caused by people, places, and things that block and crowd out Jesus.  We become desperate during our circumstances and forget in order to see we have to run ahead of them and climb up high so we can see Jesus.  We will never overcome running around in the crowd of life’s circumstances.  

     Isn’t it amazing that in this huge crowd out of all Jesus could have picked to go home with, he chose Zacchaeus.  Zacchaeus made a great effort to see Jesus.  We have to do the same when we live in daily circumstances.  Jesus asks to let Him come to be a guest at our home every day.  Do you run to see Him coming down your dusty road? If only I could get a glimpse, we cry out.  Friend climb your tree today, don’t live life short and allow those crowded circumstances to block your view. It is the one who climbs above the circumstance that He is looking for.  Jesus dumb founded this crowd when He chose Zacchaeus to come down and take Him home to be his guest.  When he took Him home his whole life circumstance changed.  Until we bring Jesus home to stay with us, our circumstance will never change. We will always live as a short person whose vision is blocked and cannot see. 

      Zacchaeus was a changed man because Jesus came to his house.  Jesus also used his life to try to get those around Him to see He was the long awaited Messiah.  If Zacchaeus was here today he would share how his heart changed and what joy he had that caused him to turn his life around.  Jesus wants to turn our lives around but we have to stop living under our circumstances, we must climb up high over them in order to see Jesus. So stop a moment today because Jesus is passing by, don’t think you are blocked by the crowd, climb up out of your situation.  Hear Jesus say, "Come I must be a guest at your home today".  Let’s invite Him to come every day because every day has a view blocking circumstance.  Begin right now to praise Jesus Holy name. It will lift you up high.

Lord, we thank You for wanting to come home with us and help us.  We praise You for coming down our road and help us today not focus on our crowd blockers but on You the glory and lifter of our heads.

Tomorrow: Sinners run with Jesus!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015