Thursday, February 28, 2013

The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

Thursday, February 28, 2013       My Meeting with Zacchaeus

Page 207      Mark 10:46a; Luke 19:1-10

Tax collectors like Zacchaeus were despicable, immoral and hated in their communities. Often, when a person had a significant encounter with Jesus, they immediately began to follow Jesus. Did you notice that Zacchaeus did not follow Jesus out of Jericho? The inference is that he stayed in his community to work out the meaning of his new life in Christ.

This little story has three themes. First, there is the issue of wealth and money and how they should be understood in the Kingdom of God. Second, there is the company Jesus keeps; he continually goes to the least, the last and the lost. Third, there is the faith that affirms Jesus as Messiah and that leads to new life.

The story of Zacchaeus makes an interesting contrast to the rich young man we read about in Luke 18. Our human nature wants to reduce Jesus’ encounters to principles that can be replicated. In the case of the rich young man in Luke 18, the obvious conclusion for those seeking eternal life is that you must sell everything you have and follow Jesus. Zacchaeus only offered one half of his wealth and he did not leave home. Even so, Jesus said “Salvation has come to this home today” (Luke 19:9). So much for our principle!

Actually, there may be a principle at work in this story of Zacchaeus. While Zacchaeus is a good contrast to the rich young man, he has much in common with the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. Both humbled themselves and acknowledged their sin and both received new life.  

Sē’lah

The second edition of my book, First Think – Then Pray has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BGQL5JC

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What word or phrase in today’s reading attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  In addition to this BLOG they are distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription

The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

Friday, March 01, 2013      Another Man Received His Sight 

Page 207-208         Matthew 20:29a, 31-34; Mark 10:46b-52