Those of you with teenagers know there are up and downs.
Man, moods change like the wind. It’s hard to stay calm and try to keep your
joy… especially when your child or a child is hurting, and questioning God. Why
did God make me so and so? What is God’s plan for my life? Does He even care about me? I feel so
invisible. These are things I‘ve experienced as a young girl, and I hear all
the time not just in my home but at our youth group and school where I’m
listening and serving kids.
It reminds me of a story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10. I’m sure you have heard about him in Sunday school. He’s the dude that hung out in the tree to get a chance to see Jesus, and ended up having him over for supper. But there is so much more to that story. You see Zacchaeus was the dirtball tax collector. In bible times tax collectors were bad dudes. But Zacchaeus heard Jesus was coming to town and “sought to see who he was”… but was too short so he climbed a tree. Jesus came to the place where Zacchaeus was and called him out and said” I’m staying at your place.” Of course Zacchaeus agreed and the bible says he received him “joyfully”. Of course this had the town all a buzz… Did you see Jesus was eating with a … with a… sinner?
But Zacchaeus didn’t care; he knew
this was his one chance at redemption. In a nutshell he told Jesus he wanted to
change and give back everything and then some. Because of Zacchaeus’ heart
change, salvation came to him and the Lord said “I have come to seek and save
what was lost.” You see this world saw
Zacchaeus as a dirt bag sinner, but Jesus
came to the place where he was and called him the way He saw him… what
he could be (did you know Zacchaeus means pure-righteous)
Maybe you don’t measure up to this worlds standards. You aren’t thin enough, you’re not outgoing enough, if God knew what you did there’s no way He would love you… But you see God does not see you the way the world sees you. Just like I tell my sweet daughter when she is crying over her shyness and wondering how God is ever going to use a quiet, shy girl. He sees everything in you that you could be, and certainly not by this worlds standards and He uses the meek and the mild to shame the wise. In Zacchaeus’ case he became righteous. The question is do you want it? Will you seek it, do you trust it? What is standing in your way of seeing Jesus, of experiencing His goodness for your life? Is it un-forgiveness, Guilt, Shame? Let me encourage you to give that to the Lord. Don’t buy into this world’s lies. He wants to go to the place where you dwell. Make your wrongs right. To seek and save what was lost. It may take some work. You may have to climb a tree or two. Don’t let obstacles get in your way… believe in the way the Lord sees you. HIS beloved child, created to do amazing things!
It reminds me of a story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10. I’m sure you have heard about him in Sunday school. He’s the dude that hung out in the tree to get a chance to see Jesus, and ended up having him over for supper. But there is so much more to that story. You see Zacchaeus was the dirtball tax collector. In bible times tax collectors were bad dudes. But Zacchaeus heard Jesus was coming to town and “sought to see who he was”… but was too short so he climbed a tree. Jesus came to the place where Zacchaeus was and called him out and said” I’m staying at your place.” Of course Zacchaeus agreed and the bible says he received him “joyfully”. Of course this had the town all a buzz… Did you see Jesus was eating with a … with a… sinner?
But Zacchaeus didn’t care; he knew
this was his one chance at redemption. In a nutshell he told Jesus he wanted to
change and give back everything and then some. Because of Zacchaeus’ heart
change, salvation came to him and the Lord said “I have come to seek and save
what was lost.” You see this world saw
Zacchaeus as a dirt bag sinner, but Jesus
came to the place where he was and called him the way He saw him… what
he could be (did you know Zacchaeus means pure-righteous)Maybe you don’t measure up to this worlds standards. You aren’t thin enough, you’re not outgoing enough, if God knew what you did there’s no way He would love you… But you see God does not see you the way the world sees you. Just like I tell my sweet daughter when she is crying over her shyness and wondering how God is ever going to use a quiet, shy girl. He sees everything in you that you could be, and certainly not by this worlds standards and He uses the meek and the mild to shame the wise. In Zacchaeus’ case he became righteous. The question is do you want it? Will you seek it, do you trust it? What is standing in your way of seeing Jesus, of experiencing His goodness for your life? Is it un-forgiveness, Guilt, Shame? Let me encourage you to give that to the Lord. Don’t buy into this world’s lies. He wants to go to the place where you dwell. Make your wrongs right. To seek and save what was lost. It may take some work. You may have to climb a tree or two. Don’t let obstacles get in your way… believe in the way the Lord sees you. HIS beloved child, created to do amazing things!
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