Changing Direction

 

19:1 He entered Jericho and was passing through it.
19:2 A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich.
19:3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature.
19:4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way.
19:5 When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today."
19:6 So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him.
19:7 All who saw it began to grumble and said, "He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner."
19:8 Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much."
19:9 Then Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham.19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost." Luke 19:1-10

Jesus answered, “I assure you, unless someone is born anew, it’s not possible to see God’s kingdom.”  - John 3:3 (CEB)
 

During a recent flight aboard a private plane, I sat in the co-pilot’s seat. Five minutes into the trip, the pilot made a sharp left turn and began descending. The air-traffic controller had informed him that another aircraft was heading in our direction. This experience reminded me that the need to change direction is also part of our earthly journey, at times to steer us away from a dead-end path to one that is life-giving. In the Bible we see this repeatedly.

Having observed and listened to Jesus, the tax collector Zaccheus realized that he wanted to know more.

He invited Jesus into his home, and that encounter changed Zaccheus. He declared a new approach to how he dealt with people, saying, “Half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” Jesus also spoke to Nicodemus (see John 3) and to the woman at the well (see John 4) about changing their direction.




This still happens today. Through family members, friends, pastors, and even strangers, God continues to call us in new directions. And as we pray, listen, and obey, we can trust that God will guide us on our journey through new territory.

 

 

The Author  - Stephane Brooks (French West Indies) - from the Upper Room

 

Thought for the Day  - Jesus calls each of us to new beginnings.

Prayer

Dear God, Great Shepherd of the flock, help us to follow you faithfully even when we feel unsure of the way. Amen.

Prayer focus - Someone facing a dead end