Thoughts while Traveling

He opened his talk with the story of Zacchaeus. Brennan talked about how an entire town, with their ridicule and hatred, could not keep the little man from oppressing them through the extravagant financial gains he made as a tax collector. Christ walked through town and spotted the man. Christ told Zacchaeus that he would like to have a meal with him.

In the single conversation Christ had with Zacchaeus, Jesus spoke affirmation and LOVE, and the tax collector sold his possessions and made amends to those he had robbed. It was the affection of Christ, not the brutality of a town, that HEALED Zacchaeus.

~ Don Miller ~ Blue Like Jazz


If that reminder doesn't hit us hard with the blatant truth of God's word, then we truly are a blind, mute, and deaf church. If that reminder doesn't convict us to the core, then we need to dig down and find our souls amongst the rubble and disease. If that reminder doesn't make us want to run out to the streets and just BE like Jesus (easier said than done, but attainable- He said so Himself) , then we need to check our pulse to make sure that we have a heart that is operating at all.

And why is it that we don't see lost and hurting people like Zacchaeus as in NEED OF BEING HEALED rather than in need of repenting? He was lost, and he was hurting. Why have I never thought of him as such? I was taught in Sunday school that he was a bad man that turned good. Was he bad? Not even the question. He was lost. One loving conversation with Jesus and his heart was cleaned, pure and white as snow. One act of selfless love and someone was healed. In an instant, he wanted to give--------not take.

Oh, to want to give and not take. To be cleaned inside and forgiven. To know that you are loved at all. Do we remember why we call Jesus our friend?Do we follow him or do we wade through the forest trying to create our own path, ironically getting scraped up and bitten to pieces all the way?

Who is the Zacchaeus in my life today? Who needs a meal and a small amount of my time, affirmation, and love? Is the name Zacchaeus MY OWN very alias today? What about you?

The Sunday school song is hardly the point...