Just Call Me Zach!

Luke 19:5 When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”

We may not be in a tree when Jesus finds us but I believe He says the same thing to us when He finally catches our attention… HURRY… COME… TODAY… I must stay at your house.

I was not in a tree. I was digging a hole. I thought I was so smart – and powerful –  I could “make” people bend to my will. I had the powerful tool of manipulation and like Zaccheus (he was a tax collector who collected a “small” portion for himself from the people he called his neighbors), I was going to use it on the people from my community for the benefit of ME.

My story is a story about as long as 32 years. A story where I was my own heroine, I made up my own game (and the rules) and I determined that I wouldn’t stop, even to the point of death, until I WON!

Luke 19:2 And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich. 

Zach didn’t “look” wrong, however he probably knew he was doing wrong somewhere in his deepest part. At least, that day, there indeed was a desire to find Jesus, so strong he climbed a tree to see Him.

God’s desire exploding in man’s heart!

God created us and placed within us the evidence of Himself and the temple He wants He wants to build for Himself. Until that place is filled with His presence, whether we admit it or not, we KNOW there is an empty spot within and we strive to fill it (usually with all the wrong things).

When Zach heard Jesus coming, the empty space within Him demanded to SEE Him.

I was digging my grave… I was “ready” to fight to my death (boy, wouldn’t they be sorry) for my right to live as I wanted to! When a friend who wouldn’t play my game by my rules, told me Jesus was coming… “You need Jesus!”… the empty space within me demanded to SEE Him.

Just call me Zach! Jesus found me in my self dug grave and said… “hurry and come down up, for today I must stay at your house”

Just like Zaccheus, I’m sure, though some might say “she’s a good person”, most would begin to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a woman who is a sinner.” (Luke 19:7) 

Just like Zaccheus, I wasn’t alone – the table is FULL!

Mark 2:15 And it *happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him. 

And the church “fathers” ask…

Mark 2:16 When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, “Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?” 

I have to admit… I asked the same question! “Why me?”

Then you look into His eyes and everything but Him becomes sooooooooo unimportant… You want the money? “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.” (Luke 19:8) You want my life? (As a disclaimer, I wasn’t as quick to give to Jesus, it took me a FEW days of having Him at my table.) I don’t have riches, all I have is this hole I have been digging.

Luke 19:9-10 And Jesus says… “Today salvation has come to this house… For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” 

#metoo? EVEN me???????

Mark 2:17 And hearing this, Jesus says, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Yep, if I were listed in the dictionary, right next to me would be the label “sinner”! The perfect definition of my life! Just throw me in the LOST pile…

But God…

Luke 19:10 The Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost. 

Make that the LOST and FOUND pile…

Why me?

And Jesus says… “Because God, Our Father, told me to!”… And I am JUST LIKE HIM! We are on the same page! “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. (John 5:30)

Thank God, Jesus lives in my house!

He is not done with me yet, He is building a temple within me that will be worthy of God, Himself. Building such a temple takes time and masterful attention to every detail. But God… with me trembling in awesome fear of His power and might… it is God who is at work in me, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)

How about you?

Has your empty space, designed to be God’s temple, DEMANDED to see Jesus yet?

Have you climbed a tree, or dug a hole, or swam the deepest waters, to catch just a glimpse of Him?

Jesus is calling!

“Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”

Be.Like.Zach.

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.