Thursday; August 26

I have been pretty open about my frustration with modern communication and social media; however, I have to give it the credit it deserves. Through things like Facebook and email, I have been able to get to know people I wouldn’t have otherwise. Several of the people I have never personally met or have only seen a few times continue to inspire me. Last week I had another one of those nuggets dropped into my “Inbox” when I received an email that stated, “Long before Zacchaeus couldn’t see Jesus, the tree was planted to meet his need.”. Many of us are familiar with the story of the Zacchaeus, the shorter man who found himself swallowed up in a crowd who had come to see Jesus. Not to be deterred, “… he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way.” (Luke 19:4). Jesus recognized this man’s dedication by inviting Himself to enjoy Zacchaeus’ hospitality.

While the story of Zacchaeus reminds us that salvation is available to all, the observation in the quote reminds us that God is active in guiding our lives. This is never more evident than in His willingness to send His Son to provide forgiveness for us; however, it may also be manifested in more day-to-day ways. We may experience God’s blessing today; but He may have put into motion those events several days, months or even years before we knew we would need them. This affirms not only God’s power, but His innovative wisdom as well.
Let’s appreciate God’s ability to change our condition, but never forget the love He has for us that makes Him want to do it. Not only can we feel the power of His Almighty hand, but we can also rest safely in His ever-present care.

Think About It!

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