Many of us grew up singing the little Sunday School song about "Zacchaeus was a wee little man." I'm here to tell you the sentiment portrayed in that well meaning song is completely wrong! The hand motions taught where the lyrics say "And as the savior passed that way he looked up in the tree, and he said, "Zacchaeus, you come down" are the finger pointing, you've been naughty and you're in trouble type of hand motions. That is quite the opposite of the true sentiment found in scriptures!
What is your image of God? Maybe the Sunday School song wasn't responsible for your image of God, but often that finger pointing, judgmental sentiment is exactly what we absorb and believe about God. Then, we end up living with a false and untrue image of God and it can affect the rest of our life and relationships. It can also affect our own self image and value.
We live in a world full of sin and even well meaning people can send us very wrong messages about our worth and value. Maybe it stems from a Sunday School song, or maybe it comes from a parent or other authority figure in our life, but we often have a wrong image of God and our value because of past relationships and messages. Pastor Adam mentioned the following ways in which value is typically measured: 1) appearance; 2) approval; 3) achievement; 4) affluence. These are inaccurate and untrue measuring sticks. They make horrible GODS. Do one or more of these measurements of value have control over your life and relationships? Do they affect your self image and maybe even your image of God?
INVITATION: This week you will be asked to pray and consider if you are believing false messages about your worth and value that might be keeping you bound and imprisoned. Often times WE hold the key to that prison and only need to embrace the truth about who GOD says we are and who GOD created us to be. How can you begin to embrace and believe in the true character of God this week? How can you begin to focus on what HE says about your value and worth? What would it look like to begin believing and living into what GOD says rather than what others say - even well meaning others? Even Sunday School songs?
MONDAY: Luke 19:1-4: Zacchaeus was not just a hated tax collector, he was the chief tax collector. In this day and time being in any way physically disabled or "challenged" (such as being unusually small, or a "wee little man") was attributed to sin. So, Zacchaeus was hated and despised on many levels. People had contempt for him. One has to wonder if he may have climbed into the tree in part to hide. He may have felt shamed. He may have felt embarrassed. He probably felt small on many levels. Maybe he wanted to be basically "invisible." Can you relate? Have you ever felt those things? Do any of the four measurements of value mentioned above contribute to these feelings?
TUESDAY: Luke 19:5-6: Jesus stopped and took notice of Zacchaeus. Jesus took time to stop and notice even with many adoring people around him and following him into town. We can only image how the people were clamoring for the attention and approval of Jesus. He was the "talk of the town" at this time. Yet even in this atmosphere Jesus called Zacchaeus by name and truly saw him for who he was. He acknowledged him. He wanted to talk with him face to face and dine at his home. Very intimate. Very personal. Very authentic. No matter how small or insignificant you may think you are, Jesus cares for you and desires a very personal and authentic and intimate relationship with you. How do you feel about that? As you consider this question, how does you answer reflect what your image of God might be? Do you have fear about being shamed or punished by God? Or, do you long to sit at the feet of Jesus, eat with him, and talk one on one with him? Do you desire for him to truly see you and know you?
WEDNESDAY: LUKE 19:7: The people around this scene began to "mutter." That means to complain, grumble and gripe. Nothing is recorded about Jesus addressing any of this. Nor did Zacchaeus gloat and boast and puff up in the presence of all the folks who despised him. GOD defined who Zacchaeus was and GOD defines who you are. Contempt is poison to the heart, mind and soul. These people probably felt quite a bit of contempt toward Zacchaeus. and, under the circumstances, Zacchaeus could have felt contempt toward the crowds because Jesus noticed him and paid attention to him. Consider praying today how you can begin to silence the voices in your life other than the voice of your maker and creator....the one who knows you best. How can you keep your eyes focused on the "author and perfecter of your faith" (Heb. 12:2) as opposed to others around you? How can you begin to allow God and his goodness to define who you are? How can you refuse to indulge contempt in your life in spite of what other people around you might be doing/saying?
Consider the following quote:
"Aren't you, like me, hoping that some person, thing, or event will come along to give you that final feeling of inner well-being you desire? Don't you often hope: 'May this book, idea, course, trip, job, country or relationship fulfill my deepest desire.' But as long as you are waiting for that mysterious moment you will go on running helter-skelter, always anxious and restless, always lustful and angry, never fully satisfied. You know that this is the compulsiveness that keeps us going and busy, but at the same time makes us wonder whether we are getting anywhere in the long run. This is the way to spiritual exhaustion and burn-out. This is the way to spiritual death.” Henri Nouwen in "Life of the Beloved - Spiritual Living in a Secular World."
THURSDAY: Luke 19:8-10: Note Jesus did not mention anything about Zacchaeus needing to "get his life straightened out" or in any way "clean house." There was nothing even mentioned about repentance at this point. As Pastor and theologian Tim Keller says, "No one has ever learned that he or she is a sinner by being told that they are." All that had happened is Jesus saw Zacchaeus, called him by name and spent time with him. Zacchaeus immediately wanted to right his wrongs. He was convicted. He wanted to change and begin to live differently. That is what seeing the true nature of God - not an untrue image - can do. That is what allowing God to see you can do. It is not just about outward behavior modification or trying harder to behave better. Zacchaeus knew immediately what the gods in his life had been - and they hadn't been the one true God. Matthew 7:18 tells us that: "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit." Zacchaeus became a good tree from the inside out. His life could now begin to bear good fruit. What is the fruit in your life like these days? Have you taken the time and made the effort to look for Christ? If it involved climbing a tree, would that be too much trouble for you? When Jesus calls your name, do you respond or are you too busy, or perhaps too concerned about what other people might think of you?
FRIDAY: Romans 12:1-2: What is your "spiritual act of worship?" What pattern does your life conform with - God or others? Ask God to help you with any "patterns" that might need to change and become more conformed to God.