"WHAT THINK YOU OF CHRIST?"
Zacchaeus made haste, came down from a tree and received Jesus joyfully many years ago...
How is he received today?
Luke 19:1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. Luke 19:4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. KJV
According to what I have read, Publicans were tax collectors back in that day. This man had a lot of wealth and was well-known but he wanted to know who Jesus was. He wanted to see him for himself.
And, when he found out that Jesus was coming by, he went and climbed up into a tree because he was a small guy. Jesus had just went through the congregation and healing people. There was a great multitude around Jesus, so he couldn't get to him. He ran up ahead, and he climbed a sycamore tree so he could see the Lord. The bible said when Jesus got there, when he came to the place...he looked up and he saw Zacchaeus. He knew him by name. He called him and said, Zacchaeus come down with haste. Come down the tree, for today Salvation is going to enter into your house. What about that?
Here is a sinner that most people probably don't want to have anything to do with, and Jesus Christ found him. And, he wants to come and meet him. He wants to be in his home, dwell with him and eat with him. That is the kind of man Christ was. That is all he did. I'll read on down...there is something at the end of this I think you will really enjoy.
Luke 19:5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. Is that the way we receive the Lord today...joyfully?
I was thinking this morning about our first love. I will give you an illustration of that: when a man and his wife first get married, they are so excited about life and what life has to offer them. As time goes on, some of that excitement may die out and they will need to get back to that joy they had when they first met. That is what keeps you together. That first love is what keeps you happy.
Well, that is the way it is with Jesus Christ. When you first started coming to the Lord and had made a new in your life, you were so excited that you couldn't wait to get to church. It seems longer in life people goes, the less they really want to go. We need to get back to that first love. We need to have that desire.
He wanted to see Jesus so much that he ran in front of everybody and climbed up a tree just so he could get a glimpse of him. Is that the way we are today in our Christian walk? Are we that excited about going to church? Lord, I want to go to church and get something from you that will lift me up. And, that will help me to be able to reach out into the world and cause other people to be that way.
That excitement that we have to want to serve the Lord...do you still have that drive? Do you still have that willingness to want to go and do something?
Pastor Stoney Kiser: 02/05/23 - 'Live' Sunday Morning Service in the Sanctuary.
Also, more sermons which are about 15 minutes each in length can be found at 'A Moment of Truth" with Pastor Stoney via YouTube which contain a wealth of information.
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