As I drive to work I touch the chain around my neck. Hanging from the chain is a diamond heart my husband gave me. This necklace is special, and probably the best piece of jewelry I own. My husband took great care in selecting this gift. He wanted me to like it – and I did! Reconciling the man who chose this thoughtful gift to the person moving out of our home is impossible. I touch the necklace again; somehow it makes me feel closer to him. The seat belt is annoying, and when I pull on the strap, the necklace’s chain breaks. My heart falls to the floor, so I stop to search for it. I can’t find it anywhere. Just like the jewelry, my heart is broken and my marriage lost. I lean over the steering wheel sobbing. Why O Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble (Psalm 10:1 NIV)? It’s bad enough my husband is
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This visit resulted in a dramatically changed life Examining this encounter more closely, I discover five steps which brought Zacchaeus closer to God. 1. Submit yourselves, then, to God (James 4:7a NIV). Zacchaeus had reasons not to come down from the tree – the crowd hated him and he might be mobbed. Instead, he submitted to God’s call by coming down without hesitation or excuse. 2. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7b NIV). Surely Satan didn’t want Zacchaeus in town that day. Perhaps he planted ideas in his head about staying away from the peasant crowd and counting his money that afternoon. Providing reasons to ignore God is Satan’s specialty. Recognize his ploys and flee. 3. Come near to God and he will come near to you (James 4:8a NIV). Zacchaeus only showed up; Jesus took care of the rest. No excuses about the house being a mess or not wanting to inconvenience Jesus. Don’t worry about your hidden sin – he knows about it
This visit resulted in a dramatically changed life Examining this encounter more closely, I discover five steps which brought Zacchaeus closer to God. 1. Submit yourselves, then, to God (James 4:7a NIV). Zacchaeus had reasons not to come down from the tree – the crowd hated him and he might be mobbed. Instead, he submitted to God’s call by coming down without hesitation or excuse. 2. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7b NIV). Surely Satan didn’t want Zacchaeus in town that day. Perhaps he planted ideas in his head about staying away from the peasant crowd and counting his money that afternoon. Providing reasons to ignore God is Satan’s specialty. Recognize his ploys and flee. 3. Come near to God and he will come near to you (James 4:8a NIV). Zacchaeus only showed up; Jesus took care of the rest. No excuses about the house being a mess or not wanting to inconvenience Jesus. Don’t worry about your hidden sin – he knows about it