Liz’s Morning Devotional based upon Upper Room
February 28, 2022
Read Luke 19:1-10
1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through town. 2 A man there named Zacchaeus, a ruler among tax collectors, was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but, being a short man, he couldn’t because of the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to that spot, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down at once. I must stay in your home today.” 6 So Zacchaeus came down at once, happy to welcome Jesus. 7 Everyone who saw this grumbled, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone, I repay them four times as much.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today, salvation has come to this household because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 The Human One came to seek and save the lost.”
Good Morning! Jesus still seeks and saves the lost.
Kids today live in a very different world than just a couple of generations before them. When talking with friends of a similar age, we speak of a time when they played outside all day without adult supervision. We lived in a world where most within a given community knew everyone and all would look out for each other. Historians sometimes call this time the age of innocence. It’s not that there weren’t inherent dangers, we just believed that they were somewhere else because those things never happened in our town.
This innocence slowly became jaded when the news featured stories of terrible incidents with children disappearing or becoming terrible statistics. Enjoying any sense of freedom as a child was no longer acceptable. In fact, parents who left their children unattended faced legal consequences. For quite a few years now, parents wouldn’t imagine letting their child play outside unattended even in their own yard.
Within this same time, as families self-isolated for protection, the community around them became filled with strangers. We learned that within every stranger was the potential for danger especially if the stranger dressed strangely, smelled bad, or had a different color skin. Oh, how far we have strayed from the path of righteousness.
Jesus comes for everyone for we are all children of God. We shouldn’t place ourselves in obvious danger, but how many chances to serve others do we ignore because of our fear. One of our greatest fears is being asked to take a risk, to step outside of our comfort zone. If you saw someone in despair, what would you do? Would you change your course to avoid the person? This sounds a bit like a story we’ve heard before.
Reach out and touch has been included in the lyrics of several songs including a phone company jingle, but I remember a song of my youth that reflected upon all those in need: the hungry, the weary, those in despair, those who seek but are unaware of who or what they seek. The most challenging part of the song is this line “Reach out and touch though touching means losing a part of yourself if you dare.”
When we reach out and share the gift of God’s love with others we give away part of our gift, even our very being, but in return, we are blessed as God’s gift continues to grow. Do you dare to give of yourself to others?
Loving God, Thank You for loving us. We are scared to speak to strangers. How can we share your love in a world full of danger? Please help us see the way. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Offering God’s love and comfort to others is worth the risk.
Let the love of God shine through you! Pastor Liz
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