Thursday 3/20/14
Because of your job or position, I suspect this has happened to some of you: You are with a group of friends and suddenly, a very well known person walks in and to your friends’ surprise tells you “hi” and calls you by your first name. Whether your friends comment or not, they are obviously impressed. I don’t recall that ever happening to me, but if it ever does, I suspect I may be tempted to gloat a bit. This silly thought entered my mind yesterday as I again read the story in the 19th Chapter of Luke of a tax collector named Zacchaeus. (From this point forward, I will refer to him as Mr. Z) Those of you who know the story will remember that, in his day, he was about as popular as the flu is today and probably had very few friends. Mr. Z had heard all the buzz going around about a man named Jesus who was performing great miracles and deeply touching people’s lives wherever He went, so he really wanted to catch a glimpse of Him. Being a man of very short stature, Mr. Z knew he would not be able to get a good look of Him, so he climbed up on a sycamore tree where he knew Jesus would pass by.
Luke 19:5 says: When Jesus reached the spot, He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” One poor soul who earnestly wanted to know Jesus, was struck with amazement that Jesus not only knew him, He even called him by his name. Many of us may never be able to say that some world-famous politician, sports hero, movie star, or a celebrity of any kind knows us, but the truth is that someone greater than all of them put together knows us. His name is Jesus. He said: I am the Good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me. (John 10:14)
Wow! Can you imagine that? The Good Shepherd, the Giver of Life, the Creator of the Universe, the Great I am and the Savior of all mankind, knows you and me personally. I don’t know about you, but I get thrilled and excited just knowing that one day He’s going to call me by my name and welcome me to my heavenly home. I’m sure you have many more friends that Mr. Z had, but if you don’t, or for whatever reason, you feel insignificant or unimportant, cheer up! The One who loves you the most, knows you the best. Yes, He knows you!
Memory verse for the week: Acts 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
