Here is the revelation that is shaping my life today- do I live open to the transformative effect of the intimacy of Jesus?
Luke 19:7-10 TPT
[7] As Jesus left to go with Zacchaeus, many in the crowd complained, “Look at this! Of all the people to have dinner with, he’s going to eat in the house of a crook.” [8] Zacchaeus joyously welcomed Jesus and was amazed over his gracious visit to his home. Zacchaeus stood in front of the Lord and said, “Half of all that I own I will give to the poor. And Lord, if I have cheated anyone, I promise to pay back four times as much as I stole.” [9-10] Jesus said to him, “This shows that today life has come to you and your household, for you are a true son of Abraham. The Son of Man has come to seek out and to give life to those who are lost.”
Observation
The story of Zacchaeus reveals that salvation, life in the way God designed, results in a changed lifestyle, and reformed living is not a prerequisite of salvation. Too often people reject Jesus based on their perception that their ‘sin is too great.’ The reality is that Jesus seeks out everyone, sin is no deterrent of his passion to save, “he’s going to eat in the house of a crook.” God has never been afraid of your sin, He knows He is the only answer, so He is always inviting himself to your house. The question is whether we will joyously accept His gracious offer.
When you met Jesus the meeting changes you. When life as it was designed to be enters your world, its beauty, healing, and freedom change you. The challenge is that we legislate what these changes should look like and then put them as a requirement for first meeting with God. We say ‘clean up before you get to meet Him.’ This is religion because it’s not God-created reality, it’s man dictated, controlled, and judged. The truth is we are all welcomed into the embrace of God just as we are. Forgiveness in Jesus covers our sin so the meeting is without judgment, condemnation, or shame. And then life as God intends always flows from the intimacy of the meeting. And life is always individual. Zacchaeus’ meets life and changes his life from self to generous, from corrupt to put right. But it’s an intimate personal journey from life to more life. So you can’t legislate it, only God knows what journey of healing and release He will take you on. You never know what part of your life He will touch until you accept the offer to come to the table.
So always come under the covering of forgiveness in Jesus and allow the intimacy of your meeting with life to release life in you. The result of life in you is the evidence of the meeting, “This shows that today life has come to you and your household.” This is why Jesus came – “The Son of Man has come to seek out and to give life to those who are lost.” If you can embrace your lostness, not easy in today’s culture, receive the free gift of forgiveness, again not easy in an earn and deserve world, then you will find yourself sharing the table with the giver of life, and who knows what comes next?
Application
I will continue to live securely under the covering of forgiveness, for from here I have a chance at embracing my lostness, my brokenness. Life only flows into me where I will receive it, and it always replaces where I have been seduced or deceived into corrupted life. I am never going to wear masks with God, I can’t afford that, I want to bring my lostness to His foundness and receive His life.
Response
Thank you that you came to save me. Thank you that you are always focused on bringing me into the fullness of the life you intended for me. Thank you that you ask Zacchaeus like me to share your table. A blessed person knows where life flows from. I am blessed.
Meditation
What areas in your life is Jesus wanting to bring His life to?
Are you trying to clean up parts of your life on your own, or do you see that it is only from the intimacy of meeting with life does life change?
JOURNEY DEEPER