Verse:
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.”
Thought:
Hiding places are places that offer fun and safety. As Children we love to play hide & seek. Finding
that perfect place where no one can find you is especially exciting. Along the way however, hiding
places may offer more than just fun. Sometimes hiding is necessary for our peace of mind and survival.
Each time I walk into the house, I see this example. There, above my head, is a not so little lizard,
and you guessed it, it's hiding. It is not so much hiding from as it is hiding for. It hides for it's
meal and it's daily survival. Poking it's head out as you walk by, you can't help but smile. But when
we see others hiding in such a fashion, pleasure and laughter does not fill us, instead we are filled
with tension and disappointment. Why must another person live like this or go through something of this
nature?
Hear the Good News, as apt as we are to feel the need to hide in times of trial, disappointment or
brokenness, we must know that God is calling to us to come out of the dark places through the life death
and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As was the case with the lepers who were outcasts during the time
of Christ, yet were called to and in fact healed, we too are called to out of our fear and hopelessness.
This hope must have been one of the factors in Zacchaeus' change of heart. Shortly before hearing of Jesus'
travel to Jericho, he must have hear the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax collector. Upon hearing that
Jesus was coming he made it a point to see Jesus. What Zacchaeus found however was obstacle. Instead of
running and hiding he found a tree that just ahead of the crowd, climbed up the tree and waited.
Now this would have been a great story of perseverance, but the Gospel is much more than just that, the
Gospel is about Love and Grace. When Jesus came to the tree he did not look up and say "Hey you, come on
down." Jesus called him by name, "Zacchaeus, come down, for I am staying at your house today". When we
seek Jesus out, He does not refer to us as "hey you", but by name. You see he not only knows our name,
but he knows our heart and soul. The 139th Psalm reminds us that God knew us before we were even known.
This is what having a relationship with God is all about. It is time for us to all come out of hiding,
and enter into the light of Christ.
Prayer:
Gracious God, thank You for calling me by name and bringing me out of the dark places in my life. It is so easy for me to want simply to hide instead of facing what is really before me. By Your strength I know I can face all things and by Your Grace I know I live. Help me to share what You have done in my life with others. Thank You for all You have done and all You continue to do. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Grace & Peace
Rev. David Banks
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