Devotion
We are Called to the Lost
Chipo Biti
Zacchaeus was a wealthy tax collector. Tax collectors in the times of Jesus were not popular people. I'm pretty sure tax collectors of the present day we live in are also held in a high regard. Zacchaeus probably held high societal status as a result of his wealth. But none of that meant a thing to him when he wanted to meet Jesus. He wasn't a very tall man but He did not allow his to stop him. He put his dignity aside, ran ahead and climbed a tree in order to see Jesus. It was very clear that Zacchaeus was determined to meet Jesus and possibly converse with Him.
Jesus took it several steps further and informed Zacchaeus that he was going to stay with him. This was a shock to everyone around Jesus - and probably to Zacchaeus too. Tax collectors were known for using sneaky, underhanded means to retrieve their money from other people. When people heard that Jesus was going to stay with Zacchaeus they started to grumble, accusing Jesus of associating with sinners.
What a funny thing for them to say, considering the fact that they were sinners too. They probably didn't see it that way because they felt that they weren't as bad as Zacchaeus. Self-righteousness can blind you of your own flaws while you amplify the flaws of other people. Jesus wasn't moved. He wasn't there to follow the status quo. He was there to reach out to people from different walks of life.
Look at the transformation that occurred within Zacchaeus. He was determined to give away half of his possessions to the poor and he was willing to pay back four times the amount to anyone he had cheated. A repentant heart! What a sight! All of this was triggered by the loving gesture Jesus made, by reaching out to Zacchaeus.
Jesus ended it off with the perfect statement, putting all grumblers to silences, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
Prayer
We should never get to a point of thinking that we are better than the lost. Remember that there was a time where you were lost and you responded to the love that God was stretching out in your direction.
As Christians, we are called to reach out to the lost - no matter how crazy or "sinful" they may appear to be. When we allow the love of God to work through us, miracles will happen. The same way they happened when Jesus reached out to Zacchaeus - a man most people had written off of a sinner who could never be saved.
Devotion
The Barrier is Removed
Frances Taylor
Moses had brought the Israelites out of Egypt and now they were wondering if they were any better off! They had reached the Red Sea, and couldn't see any way around this barrier that had been placed before them. But God knew what he was doing and Moses followed his instructions and the sea parted so that the Israelites could pass through on dry ground. A question sometimes asked at a job interview is, "What do you do when you face an obstacle?" How would you answer? Would you try to go around it, through it, or perhaps over it? Moses could not go around his obstacle and knew that without help, he could never bring all the people, animals and supplies through it. So, he asked God for help. Was that the first thing you thought of? There is a saying, "If God brings you to it, he will bring you through it." The key here is to ask God to bring us through it.
We often face challenges in our lives, especially when we are trying to live as Jesus wants...
Morning Prayer
Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
Inspiration
What is grace? It is the free and unmerited favor of God, his gifts to us. One such example was the salvation brought to us by Christ. It is state of being favored and of being the chosen people. One such further example would be the Israelites, who God led to their promised land. We today, have inherited this grace. We today, are simultaneously unworthy of him, yet we are his chosen. Rejoice, rejoice in his grace.
Prayer
To my Lord God almighty, who art in Heaven, I thank you for your divine light and grace, given to me every day. I may not be worthy, I may not be pure and perfect, but I beg you to be merciful. For in your grace, in your faith, I may go on to improve each day. In your grace, I will strive to be a better servant, here as in Heaven. Amen.
