THE LIVING WATER (January-December, 2023)
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
DATE:
Thursday, June 29, 2023
TOPIC:
ZACCHAEUS: THE SINCERE SEEKER
MEMORISE
And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature (Luke 19:3).
READ:
Luke 19:1-10
[1] Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
[2] Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.
[3] And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature.
[4] So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.
[5]. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”
[6]. So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.
[7] But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”
[8]. Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”
[9] And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;
[10]. for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
EXPOSITION
The reason you do things matters. While many ran after Him for the literal bread (Jn. 6: 26), some sought Him for miracles. There was one who wanted to enlist among His followers as a socialite, perhaps, a financier of His team and ministry. There was another who desired to be His disciple, perhaps to be living comfortably in a mansion, but Christ bluntly told Him, *Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head* (Lk 9:58). It isn't written if the fellow followed Him, having heard that! However, Zacchaeus longed to see Jesus. You can see how desperate and swift he was, evident in the way he defied all odds to climb the Sycamore tree to see the Lord. This is similar to what the carriers of the paralytic in Mark 2:4 did. They defied the odds to lower the man to Jesus from the house's roof! Why are you in church-your aim, motive or target? Jesus once asked Judas Iscariot something similar, *Friend, why have you come?* (Matt. 26:50) knowing his intent for kissing Him. He knows why you desire being a pastor, elder, choir leader, youth leader, etc., and judges every motive accordingly.
Zacchaeus was obviously sincere with himself, his limitation - stature, notwithstanding. Are you sincere with yourself in seeking the Lord on programmes? What are your expectations when attending church mountain activities? Hope they aren't just for what you can grab from God alone? Dear reader, be sincere as you seek Christ, daily
SUGGESTED HYMN FOR TODAY:
CAC GHB 214
1. Come to the Saviour make no delay
Here in His word He has shown us the way;
Here in our midst He's standing today
Tenderly saying, 'Come"
Chorus:
Joyful, joyful, will the meeting be
When from sin our hearts are pure and free;
And we shall gather, Saviour, with Thee
In our eternal home
2. 'Suffer the children" Oh, hear His voice!
Let ev'ry heart leap forth and rejoice,
And let us freely make Him our choice
Do not delay, but come
3. Think once again, He's with us today
Heed now His blest command, and obey,
Hear now His accents tenderly say,
"Will you, my children, come?"
Amen.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Father, help me to be a sincere seeker in Your Presence.
2. Lord, search my motives for seeking You, and help me to correct any error in them.
3. Pray for the Department of Christian Education in Christ Apostolic Church, the Director and the staff as led by the spirit of God.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
Psalms 76-8-78-24
AUTHOR
CAC Worldwide
Remain blessed
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