This past weekend, President Bush was in Bagdad and a reporter through his shoe at him because he absolutely despised him. In that culture it is great insult to have a shoe thrown at you. Not to be crude to just be crude, but it is like a certain hand gesture used in other cultures when someone does not like what you did. Despite the insult thrown at him, President Bush just brushed it off. Overall our president is very much liked in that country for liberating them from Saddam.However, can you imagine what it would be like to live in a town and no one liked you? No one! You had such a bad reputation that you were the most despised individual in the entire town. “Nobody in Jericho liked Zacchaeus.” He was a corrupt and greedy chief tax collector who made himself rich from the pockets of the people of Jericho.
Yet, who did Jesus reach out to as he walked through that city? Much to the surprise of the people and Zacchaeus, he sought out the worst of all mankind. A couple of thoughts: Jesus spotted him, called him by name, told him to come down from the tree and invited Himself to his home. The result of His show of love towards Zacchaeus, his life was never the same. Luke states in verse ten that, “The Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Would we through a shoe at Zacchaeus as he passed by or would we reach out as an Ambassador of Jesus Christ?
Mark
1 comment:
I know a girl who has completely turned from God. She doesn't care what people think anymore, and people think the worst. As I am praying about how to reach out to her, I am so encouraged by Jesus' example. I've got to risk what people might think or say even about me, so I might have compassion on this girl and help her spiritual eyes to opened once again...
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