Week 3, Day 1

Today’s Reading:  Luke 21-22

Sorry to be so late getting this posted for today, but then I’m sure you all could guess what the next reading was going to be anyway!

Some thoughts from Friday’s reading…

I have always enjoyed the story of Zaccheus from Luke chapter 19.  I often think of it from the standpoint of Zaccheus when reading it, but this time, I thought about this account from Jesus’ standpoint.  There are a couple of things that I think we can learn from this account and put into application in our own efforts.

First, we can learn that Jesus did not suffer from the preconceptions that most of the people in His time believed.  Most people hated the tax collectors, and would not have given them a second thought when it came to sharing something with them.  Jesus had the most valuable thing int the world at His disposal–a relationship with God.  He didn’t decide that Zaccheus was not worthy of hearing His message.  Just the opposite.  He chose the house of Zaccheus to go to.  Jesus obviously taught, as we see changes in Zaccheus.  He was going to give generously to the poor, and he was going to return four fold what he had overcharged.

Secondly, Jesus did not care what others thought about His actions.  It didn’t matter that everyone who saw Jesus talking with Zaccheus was going to condemn Him for His actions.  There wasn’t a worse sinner than the Publicans (tax collectors) in the mind of most of the Jews.  If He allowed the impressions of the people around Him to impact His actions, He would have never spoken to Zaccheus.

These two principles need to be considered while we are practicing evangelism.  We should not hold the “word of God with partiallity.”  We should not decide who we are going to approach with the gospel based on outward appearances, or based upon some preconception.  Sometimes we avoid some people while trying to hand pick others.  That process never works.  Our job is to spread the seed, and let it fall where it will.  It will find the good soil, and grow.

We also cannot allow what other people think affect who we will approach with the gospel message.  Many churches try to form an appearance for themselves.  They want to be affluent, and they want to draw in the powerful, popular people in the community.  The Lord’s church does not (or should not) operate in that way.  The gospel is for all.  If we truly believe that, then we must spread the gospel message to all.  Spread that seed freely, and let God produce the increase where He will!

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