Zacchaeus

Here is a story in the bible that we love to teach. It is a story of how Jesus loved sinners. I think there is a little more to be learned here. I feel like sometimes we view the stories in the bible as just that, nice stories. But they are real life events. It is a history book that is not finished. It is written, but the events have not all happened yet. Let’s put the story is modern day terms. Zacchaeus is the man that has everything. He has money. He has the nice house. The people that are “friends” with Zacchaeus like him, because they want his money. The people that don’t like him hate him because of his money. This is the person we are afraid to talk to because he will just shoot us down. I think he was lonely because he knew that no one liked him for him. Yet no one was willing to get to know him. Then Jesus comes along and acknowledges him, he eats with Zacchaeus. Jesus has nothing to gain from this relationship, but He reaches out to him just the same.

I was on a mission’s trip recently where we did some street evangelism. We were witnessing in a highly Mormon area. There were people that I let pass by because I was afraid to talk with them. I thought they would know more about their religion than I did. After reading Zacchaeus I wondered how many of them needed to hear the message I had to bring. How many friends, family, and co-workers do we not share Jesus with because we are afraid that they will not respond? We look at people and say “They have all they need.” But they don’t! Why? Because they do not have Jesus! Zacchaeus was a lonely man that needed Jesus, and it took Jesus making time for Zacchaeus in order for him to change. How many people would trust in Jesus if we took time out of our lives to share Jesus with them? He came to seek and save the lost!!!!

Intentional Living

I have been in ministry, working with students, for 10 years. Over the years there have been themes that God has brought out through teaching or experience.

Over the past couple of years I have been hearing the same theme. On the Evangelical Free Church Student Ministries Council I serve on, in staff meetings, in training seminars, and just as God teaches me through His Word, He has been calling me to intentional living.

The problem is, it is easy getting caught up in what needs immediately to be done -- the tyranny of the urgent. You think, if I don’t do it then it no one else will.

I am a doer. I like being a doer. I will help in most situations. If a storage room needs cleaned out, I will help. Martin the senior pastor at my church often says I need to focus. This is a part of intentional living, having in mind the things that are important so you will focus on them. Doing everything in your power to stay on track and accomplish the “big rocks” in your ministry and life. (Big rocks are the most important things that need to be done in ministry and life.)

As a believer in Jesus, in life and ministry I have two main foci. These need to rule everything I do. They are: the Great Commandment, and the Great Commission.

Jesus gets asked the question, “What is the greatest commandment?” And He answers this question. His response summarizes the most important thing that you and I can do with our lives. There is no bigger rock in life or ministry.

Jesus says in Matthew 22:37-40: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

These verses for believers should form the basis for our everyday intentionality. They should be what we live for, what makes us tick. When we are building our lives around them, our hearts and lives will change. We will be different.

What defines you? What are your “big rocks?” If we desire to live intentionally, we will ask these kinds of questions. Then we will change, based on the answer to these questions.

I know I have a long way to go to be an intentional liver. But I need to start the process. I need to ask the questions and allow the answers to shape the way I live.

A couple of years ago I was listening to a sermon. A statement that the pastor made will stick with me for the rest of my life. He said, the way we live shows us who is on the throne of our life. How you answer these questions defines you. Knowing what your big rocks are will help you see who or what is on the throne of your life. Take time this next week and ask these questions.

Being a teacher

I love teaching. I love being a teacher. I feel this is one of the gifts God has given me. In fact I have to be careful not to rely on the gift and instead rely on God to help me be the best teacher I can. Well, I have been gone for my students for about 4 weeks. I miss them and want my first lesson back to be a good one. So I opened my curriculum and found the lesson that was supposed to be taught last week. But for some reason it was not. As I started to study for it, I felt like a 2 by 4 hit me across the face. This lesson is not for my students. I know some of them could use it, but I need it as much or more than they do. The lesson is on making sure your speech builds people up. Ephesians 4:29 haunts me. Like I said I love being a teacher. This is why. I know I need my life to be more conformed to the image of Jesus. My heart needs to change; if my heart is changed my speech will be changed. I can be embarrassed by what comes out of my heart. I am just glad that God chooses to use sinners to do his work.