DATE POSTED: Sunday, September 17, 2023, and I was blessed to be at Dowling Park, FL when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find, read or listen to any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FROM THE Living Bible (TLB) IS FOUND IN Luke 19:1-5

THE BIBLE TEXT IS: As Jesus was passing through Jericho, a man named Zacchaeus, one of the most influential Jews in the Roman tax-collecting business (and, of course, a very rich man), tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowds. So he ran ahead and climbed into a sycamore tree beside the road, to watch from there.
When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name! “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick! Come down! For I am going to be a guest in your home today!”

MY INITIAL THOUGHTS: I find it interesting the number of excuses we could come up with for getting out of our comfortable beds and homes to attend church, or to be with fellow believers, or to spend time with the Lord. This may change some if a well-known evangelist is visiting our town, or a popular spokesman who claims the gift of healing will be present. However, today’s Scripture tells of a most unlikely man who overcame all odds to see Jesus as He was marching along the streets of his town.

APPLICATION OF THE WORD: I tend to repeat something I once heard a preacher say: If God made us half as sick as we sometimes tell the preacher when asked about church attendance, we might really be in trouble. Or if God made us half as poor as we claim to be financially when we tithe, we would be on the government’s poverty list. But do you suppose we might act differently if we know that Jesus is coming to our state, or our city, or our neighborhood, or our church? What might be our excuses about the things that could possibly interfere with our attendance, or our visibility? As I get older there seems to be a lot more excuses, but since I am teased a lot about my height, it might be a very possible excuse since I could attend and still struggle to see Jesus over the heads of the crowd! But doesn’t it seem like these excuses are only used when visiting a spiritual event? But let’s think about our Sunday morning excuses: often sports will be a major blocker for many in attending church, and often this would extend to very special moments at church. I often believe that this might even distract some from going to see and experience Jesus in person? Slight aches and pains seem to stop us and so does sneezing that might indicate a cold is coming on! But what would have happened to the crippled man if he didn’t insist on his friends taking him on his bed into the presence of Jesus? Or the blind man who sat by the wayside where Jesus was passing along, if he didn’t speak up and shout out to Jesus? We tend to worry a lot about what others think of us, and I’m sure that Zacchaeus was no exception. Imagine, a tax collector who was known by everyone as a very rich and prominent man in the community, even though much of his gain came from cheating the people. But, praise God, Zacchaeus knew that, like everyone else, he personally needed Jesus – to see Him, experience Him, and to know that he was in the presence of God’s precious Son. Friends, I’m sure that you are in much the same boat as I am, and many others around you. We fall into our routine of sleeping in – especially on Sunday mornings; we convince ourselves that Sunday is the only day for the beach; we can’t hardly move for the pain in our back, (which don’t seem to bother us on a workday or stop us from getting out to the stores), we just can’t make it out to church. Plus, we foresee how painful it will be for us to sit for an hour in church. We just need to sit in our comfortable chair at home until our pain pills kick in!! Perhaps through my examples, you saw how many excuses we find to possibly block our view of Jesus. Please allow me to encourage you to adopt reasoning like Zacchaeus, let’s make it happen and place our priorities in order, allowing nothing to block our view of our wonderful Savior who died and rose again for our benefit – so that we might have the best possible life here on earth, and eternity with the King of all kings and Lord of all lords in heaven.

BLESSINGS WORTH NOTING: Zacchaeus did his part – he climbed high enough to see Jesus even over the large crowd. Jesus did His part, as He always does, He recognized the need of Zacchaeus and met his needs as only Jesus could, for salvation comes from Jesus alone!

PRAYER BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Lord Jesus, I believe that many are probably deciding at that moment why they can’t attend worship services today to sing praises to the King of all kings. Some may have calculated reasons many hours before today, and I’m sure that it must have hurt You, knowing that You went to the extreme of death for each of us, so that we might have life here on earth, and life more abundantly in heaven with You and the Father. Zacchaeus overcame one of his biggest challenges and he saw and experienced You in all of Your glory. Please remind us of this every time we allow Satan to fill our minds with excuses not to assemble ourselves together with other believers to worship You. This was important enough for You to place this command in Your Word. Please help us to not try and rewrite the Book, for in Revelations You warned us of such. You deserve our eternal praise. Please help us to never find excuses why we would deliberately allow anything to come between us and our time together in worship to you. For doing this, would generally indicate that we will allow Satan to interfere in our decision making during the week also. Times where we must stand up for You, and all that You have taught us. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There’s another page on my website, entitled ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to this page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin or continue your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, or subscribe for a daily email containing each new devotional, please go online to NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. For my podcast, go online to Apple Podcasts or, using the Apple Podcast app, simply search for Nuggets From God’s Word to hear more episodes, or click ‘Follow’ to be notified of Podcast updates. Friends, please allow me to encourage you to find a church home nearby your home and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!