The Daily Word: Sunday, April 18th, 2021
Joshua 16:1-18:28
Luke 19:1-27
Psalm 87:1-7
Proverbs 13:11
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. – Lk. 19:3-4
Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, but “could not because of the crowd.” There were barriers. Obstacles! There were other people in line. But Zacchaeus didn’t care. He was determined! He would not be deterred. So he got as close as he could to Jesus and climbed a tree to see Him. This was a “chief tax collector” (v 2) – a dignified official who was insanely rich – swallowing his pride and stopping at nothing just to get a glimpse of Jesus. Zacchaeus didn’t care what other people thought of him; he only cared about seeing Jesus face to face.
Let this be your attitude today: Jesus, I will see You. I will meet You face to face! Nothing will stand in my way. If Zacchaeus had given up and gone home instead of pursuing an encounter with Jesus, we would never hear his name. But because he sought Jesus with reckless abandon, the world still knows who he is thousands of years later.
Zacchaeus sought Jesus with all his heart. He refused to accept anything less than an audience with the King! And as a result, Jesus came and inhabited his life from that point forward, forevermore.
“And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.’ So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.” – Lk. 19:5-6
Prayer:
Father, I ask that You fill me up with a supernatural passion to pursue Jesus! I will stop at nothing to hear His voice and to see His face. Thank You for the unction to pursue, in Jesus’ name!
© Michael D. White, 2021. All rights reserved.