Stop Looking So Hard, Worrying So Much, Fearing So Secretly
(Luke 19:1-10 ESV)
Zacchaeus, the wee little man who climbed up in the sycamore tree for the Lord he wanted to see đ”đ”đ” (Click here)
Such a familiar story.
So familiar I nearly pass it by.
Which feels wrong because when Jesus passes by Zacchaeus, He stops.
So I stop.
And enter the story.
Up a tree with the chief tax collector.
. . . he was seeking to see who Jesus was . . . (v. 3)
Zacchaeus is actually seeking to do more than just see Jesus.
See here means to experience.
Zacchaeus is seeking to experience Jesus.
But why?
What drives him?
My brain is in overdrive.
Four chapters before we find Jesus eating with tax collectors.
Perhaps Zacchaeus was one of those.
Or maybe heâs just had an ear pressed to the tax collector grapevine.
Either way, today heâs a man on a mission.
His story told in breathless fashion.
In the original Greek, the first seven verses begin with the same conjunction.
And, and, and . . . .
As if, in the excitement of trying to get it all down, the writer can barely catch his breath.
All the while Zacchaeus is trying to catch his breath.
From running ahead of the crowd.
Hurrying up a tree.
Then hurrying down.
âââZacchaeus, hurry and come down,
for I must stay at your house today.â (v.5)
News like that would send me hurrying to tidy the house, freshen the bathrooms, change the sheets . . .
Now Zacchaeus and I are both out of breath.
Until we enter his house.
With Jesus.
Where unhurried conversation takes place.
At the dinner table.
Into the night.
Back and forth.
No topic is off the table.
I picture their back-and-forth written like a script.
Zacchaeusâs questions, fears, confessions.
Jesusâ responses.
Zacchaeus:
Jesus:
Zacchaeus:
Jesus:
Judging by his over-the-top conversion at the conversationâs end, I suspect experiencing Jesus takes Zacchaeusâs breath away.
Again.
Maybe Zacchaeus was always a feeler, but I doubt it.
After experiencing Jesus, though, Iâm pretty sure he is.
Me too.
I know weâd be friends.
Perhaps heâd look into my eyes, discern the weight Iâm carrying, and urge me to experience Jesus in an unhurried conversation.
âAfter all,â heâd wink, âit worked for me.â
In the spirit of their imagined script, I write.
Unhurriedly.
Me: âI feel a little purposeless these days. And that makes me nervous.â
I wait.
Hoping Jesusâ answer will reveal my purpose.
Instead, He answers with a question.
Jesus: âDo you believe I donât have a purpose for you anymore?â
Me: âNo, I donât believe that. Iâm just afraid I wonât find it.â
There it is.
My fear.
On the table.
Once again, He answers with a question.
This one takes my breath.
Jesus: “Do you think Iâd give you a purpose . . . and then not make sure you find it?”
Sometimes a question is the answer.
What a relief to stop looking so hard, worrying so much, fearing so secretly.
Iâm sure Zacchaeus would understand.
His story ends like the one four chapters before.
With indignation.
âThis man receives sinners . . . and eats with them!â
Then . . . and now.
Tree climbing not required.
Just unhurried conversation.
At the table.
No topic off the table.
Breathlessness often experienced.
Jesus always experienced.
See you in a couple weeks.
Love,
I appreciate your writings more and more each day. Thanks for sharing your feelings which often coincide with mine as a recent widow. It’s gotten a bit easier but still hard after two years. Your faith helps me keep plugging along!! God bless you Cindy!! â€ïž
Sometimes I think we tend to believe no one feels the way we do . . . but that’s just not true. I love how we were created for relationship with God and with each other . . . so we’ll have company on our journeys.
I don’t think you have any idea how helpful you are and keeping me just plugging along! I pray you had a wonderful time in Wyoming ridding horses and experiencing all the Wonder and beauty of this place he has put us.. I pray I pray I will always know purpose for me each day. To seek him, follow him and do his will â„ïž
Oh, I sure did have a wonderful time! Just finished writing about some of it. I think I’ll move it to the front of the queue and post it next time. â„ïž
I give to the Lord and next time I gone again and start worrying all over again. But today after reading your message I just need to sit down and talk with Jesus . Love hope you had a blessed Birthday friend. â€ïžđ
I had the most spectacular birthday at the ranch. They told me to ride my horse up this hill and ride out onto the ledge. I was nervous because the ledge was awfully skinny, but I did it. When I got to the ledge they sang Happy Birthday to me from below. It took my breath away! Thank you for your card. You never miss a birthday!
Thanks great Cindy!!! What fun! I was going to ask about your trip. Love your Blog today! As always đ Miss you!
My trip was such an adventure! I haven’t been anywhere at all, except to see family, since 2017. It was everything I hoped for. Love you too.
Cindy, how eloquently but practically you express your journey that parallels so many of our lives. Your writings help me ponder ideas about my relationship with my Savior that I havenât. Maybe, just maybe, writing is your purpose for this moment in time. Right now I am going to meet Him at the table instead of waiting til my usual early morning . Love , Shrrrill Allen
You might be right. Maybe we were never created to have just one purpose, but many purposes along the way . . . for our growth and for His Kingdom. I am smiling right now, picturing you at the table!
Once again, you hit the nail on the head! I have a new email address: kathee.m2012@gmail.com Should I just subscribe again with that? I need the old one deleted; kathee_m2005@bellsouth.net. Thanks
I changed it for you – added the new address and deleted the old one! Let me know if you don’t get a post on the 29th. Always good to hear from you!
Thank you, Cindy!
Thank you, Cindy, for your inspiring words. Looks like you had a wonderful trip. God bless you. Prayers helped me overcome esophageal cancer recently. I thank God every day for praying friends.
So glad to hear your good news!