Several years ago on a Sunday morning, the service at Rexdale Alliance Church was well under way. Our dearly loved Pastor, Ross Ingram was preaching his sermon. Suddenly we were shocked when a young man from the streets, dirty, unkempt, disruptable, came in, walked up the centre aisle and sat on the floor right under the pulpit. The Pastor continued with his message. We were still recovering from that shock when we got another shock. A godly elderly man from our congregation, Harvey Crouch, walked up the aisle and sat on the floor beside him. That young man’s name was Carmen and after the service, Harvey and his wife Phyllis took him home with them for lunch. Harvey had never looked more like Jesus and Carmen became born-again -- totally transformed and became part of our church family. About a year ago Carmen joined Harvey in heaven and both are singing grateful praises to God their Saviour.
Jesus was constantly maligned (Luke 5:30) because he associated with tax collectors and sinners. But it was for sinners (Luke 5:32) that Jesus came to earth, that Jesus came to die on the Cross of Calvary.
One day Jesus met up with a very crooked, greedy rich chief tax collector. His name was Zacchaeus. He had heard about Jesus and wanted to see Him. He was not very tall, so He ran ahead of the crowd and climbed up into a sycamore tree so he could see from above the crowd. But Jesus already knew who he was, what he was and where he was. When Jesus got to the tree, He looked up and said “Zacchaeus come down because I am going with you to your house to-day to have lunch with you. Zacchaeus nearly fell out of the tree because of the double shock. Just because Jesus knew his name and second, that Jesus would accept his hospitality and actually eat with him. Zacchaeus was changed by his encounter with Jesus and salvation came (Luke 19:9) not only to him but also to his whole household.
Do we know any person or people who are so different, that we would not even speak to them? Are we so stupid, so selfish, so sinful that we choose to forget why Jesus came? Do we consider that we ourselves would be just like them or worse apart from the Grace of God?
Our salvation is complete and eternal (John 13:10) but Christians can still choose in some circumstances to follow our feet into sin. We will always need the cleansing of the precious Blood of Jesus.
Let us be an (Colossians 4:5-6) Influential stepping stone and not a stumbling block for the unsaved people all around us.
Paul described himself as the chief of sinners, not worthy to be called an apostle because he had persecuted the Church of Jesus Christ. But after he met Jesus (Acts 9.4-6) he was completely transformed. He suffered much for the cause of Christ and declared the Gospel wherever he went. He became probably the chief of Christians. How much we have learned from the letters he wrote while chained in a Roman prison.
We don’t know if there could be another Zacchaeus or another Carmen among them. Why did (Matthew 21:18-19) Jesus curse the fig tree? Figs and leaves were supposed to appear at the same time but there were no figs, only leaves. That tree was not functioning as God intended in its creation. Jesus promised (John 15:7) that if we function as God intends, our prayer requests will be granted. Never give up on anyone, never stop praying.
God’s wonderful free Grace is greater than all our sin, so never give up on anyone. Speak the Truth in love but firmly speak the truth. It is better to hurt a person into heaven than to comfort them into hell. Trust the Holy Spirit to guide your words and use them in other lives. Anyone might be another Zacchaeus. Never stop praying. As long as. we are on earth our responsibility is to be actively involved in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).
Our afflictions are good for us because (Psalms 119:71) they teach us to learn, to meditate on and to trust in the Living Word of God. God’s Word is eternal because it is alive with the breath of the Eternal God.
If fear attacks you, let it be a very temporary visitor, not a permanent guest or companion. Refuse to associate with or live with fear. Jesus assured us (John 14:27) that His Peace removes all reasons for fear.
May my every breath praise God in wonder, gratitude and adoring worship.