Together We Can Make a Difference
The children of Syferfontein being loved…
Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.
-John Wesley
Life is full of a lot of questions. I have learned that there is only One person who gives me the right answers to my questions. He is the One who has a Look of Love in His eyes.
The first time I experienced that Look of Love was at 10 years old when I began a relationship with Jesus. I experienced that Look of Love in His eyes as He said: “I chose you to be My child before I created the foundations of the earth. . .you are one of My original masterpieces that I created for My pleasure and My purposes.”
Over the years I have experienced His Look of Love in different ways and at different times. When I wandered away from Him, lived my own way, making my own decisions. . .as I returned to Him I saw the Look of Love in His eyes as He welcomed me back with open arms and said: “Welcome home My Child, welcome home. You’re blessed when you stay on My course, walking steadily on the road revealed by Me.”
I have learned that when I have an important decision to make and I frantically go to Him saying: “I could do this. . .or I could do that. . .or maybe. . .Oh! What do I do?” I see the Look of Love in His eyes as He says. . .”Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’ I am your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.”
The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!” (NIV) Matthew 21:9
Have you ever wondered why God didn’t send Jesus to earth today? or in our lifetime? With the technology we have, just think of it. . .
He could fly, not walk. He could have traveled worldwide. And those areas that He couldn’t personally visit, He could communicate via Satellite transmission – or better yet, via the Internet. There could be interviews by Katie Couric – on location with Anderson Cooper – CNN could cover His every move. But God, didn’t choose to send Christ today. . . everything He did was contrary to common sense.
It’s the Sunday before Jesus death. He enters Jerusalem in style. A very large crowd has gathered and are shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!” The crowds know Jesus is presenting Himself as the Messiah, the anointed One. His ministry is thriving – word about Him has spread throughout the region.
He had been traveling through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing those who have leprosy, and driving out demons.
The people knew who He was. . . Jesus was a famous personality of His time. He would have been known by His first name only like. . . Conan or Oprah or Barack.
If men had written the story it would have been filled with events that focus on the phenomenal, the success stories. But, the Son of God hasn’t come for earthly prominence. . . He has come to Jerusalem to die.
The leaders of the day are jealous and say to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. The whole world has gone after him!” From their viewpoint, this ridiculous fanaticism with Jesus has gotten totally out of hand, and they were losing control. The masses were following Jesus instead of them, which meant potentially losing their positions, their power, and their possessions. Instead of recognizing who Jesus is – God in the flesh – they focus on their own selfish desires for power and prestige.
How do you hail Jesus as Messiah? Are your words a true reflection of your Savior? Does your lifestyle demonstrate that you are a follower of His?
Written by Marji “Mike” Kruger
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” (NIV) Luke 19:5
Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem just prior to His triumphant entry and His crucifixion. Jericho was a stopping place for weary travelers. The city was a tropical paradise and rightly called “the city of palm trees.” It was located on a main thoroughfare to Jerusalem and was therefore the center of an exceptionally productive district. The traffic in and out of Jericho brought wealth and thus the revenue for tax collectors, the occupation of the man in our story, Zacchaeus.
Zacchaeus’ name meant “pure,” an ironic name for a tax collector. Zacchaeus was not the individual who collected the actual taxes, he was a chief tax collector who contracted the work to others who then collected taxes for the Romans in this district. During this time there were several different types of taxes imposed by Rome and the Jews paid 30-40% of their income for taxes and religious dues. The tax collectors were allowed to gather more than the government required and then they would pocket the excess amounts. They were despised by their fellow Jews, simply classified as “sinners.”
Undoubtedly Zacchaeus had heard of this great man, Jesus, who had performed many miracles. We do not know how God had been preparing Zacchaeus for meeting Jesus. Perhaps he was one of the guests when Jesus dined at Matthew’s house, a fellow tax collector. . . or perhaps Matthew had told Zacchaeus about Jesus or was praying for him to meet Jesus. . . or perhaps Zacchaeus had realized that the money he had accumulated didn’t bring fulfillment, but rather it had brought an emptiness, feeling like he always had to have more – no matter how much he had, it was never enough. Or perhaps Zacchaeus sought out Jesus as a result of the rejection and scorn that brings isolation, loneliness and shame. . . or perhaps he had a sense of frustration and disappointment in life. . . or perhaps he was questioning what he was getting out of life. . . or perhaps it was out of the stress of managing an out of control business and out of control people. . . or perhaps he had a desire for Truth. . . or perhaps Zaccahaeus simply had the desire for immortality.
Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. Who is your Zacchaeus? Who around you is seeking out Jesus?
On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” . . . But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (NIV) Acts 1:4-5, 8
Jesus had died. . . 3 days later He rose from the dead and appeared many times . . . once to as many as 500 followers. And He promised to send them a gift from His Father. That gift was the Holy Spirit. Jesus related the receiving of the power with being witnesses to all mankind.
The only hope that we have to evangelize our world is through God’s power. And with that power, comes the responsibility of being a witness to what God has done through Jesus. . .and a witness to what God has done in and through your life.
When was the last time that you shared with a “Pre-Christian” the story of what God has done in your life? You may say, “But I’m not an evangelist!” Neither were those who Jesus addressed in Acts 1!
Take a moment now and list 3 people that you know who do not have a relationship with Christ.
Pray that God’s Spirit will prepare those individual’s hearts and minds so that they will be ready to clearly understand who Christ is and what He has done for mankind (John 15:26). And pray that God will continue to give you opportunities to build your relationship with those individuals and that you will act on those opportunities.
Oh Lord, Your light shines in the darkness. Your light penetrates the darkness. You are contrary to darkness. You are more powerful than darkness. You reveal, You illumine darkness.
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
A Prayer to Pray:
Just as I know that You are Light, I know that there is darkness in me, sin that has not been swept away. Have the brightness of Your glory illuminate my sinfulness.
Father,
. . . forgive me for speaking in the flesh, instead of in the Spirit.
. . . forgive me for where I relied on my own power, my own strengths, and talents, instead of on You.
. . . forgive me for withholding words instead of encouraging others.
. . . forgive me for acting like a big shot instead of a servant.
. . . forgive me for exaggerating, for not being honest.
. . . forgive me for listening to thoughts from others rather than thoughts from You.
. . . forgive me for wanting man’s approval.
In You Lord, there is no darkness. . .And amazingly, You forgive me. . . You cleanse me of my sins and wash away all my iniquity. . . and You have given me Your light. Amen.
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (NIV) 2 Corinthians 4:6
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16
For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men– the testimony given in its proper time. (NIV) 1 Timothy 2:5-6
When the blood of Christ flowed at His crucifixion, the veil in the temple was torn in half from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). The veil that had symbolically separated the people from personal contact with God was removed by God Himself (Hebrews 10:20). The human mediation required under the terms of the Old Covenant would no longer be needed. Everyone would have access to God through Jesus, the High Priest. The sole function of a high priest was to offer sacrifices. In so doing, the priest acted as a neutral party between God and man to bring about an agreement or reconciliation of the divided parties.
Under the Old Covenant, a high priest was selected from among men and was “appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins” (Hebrews 5:1). No high priest took the honor upon himself. Rather he had to be called by God (Hebrews 5:4). A perfect mediator between God and man had to share both natures. Thus for Jesus to be the mediator of the New Covenant, He had to be both divine and human which He was. Christ is the mediator for all believers (Hebrews 9:15, 12:24). If Christ had not been an actual man, He could not have sincerely represented mankind. The author of Hebrews describes Christ from both a divine (Hebrews 7:26, 7:28. 9:14) and human perspective (Hebrews 2:9, 2:14).
The relationship between God and man is at the heart of the New Covenant. God desires to have fellowship with men. The author of Hebrews writes, “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22) and that we “come to God through him (Christ)” (Hebrews 7:25). God desires to have a growing relationship with Christians. Take time to today to show your gratitude to the Son, our perfect mediator.
In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (NIV) Ephesians 3:12
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. (NIV) 1 Chronicles 16:34
The Thoughts for the Day the last 3 weeks have focused on enriching our time with God. We have covered a lot of ground, but have more to go. You have been challenged to prepare a time and a place for your appointment with the Creator. We have looked at the importance of starting our time with praise followed by confession. The last few days we have concentrated on becoming more powerful “pray-ers” by praying God’s Word. Now it is time for our hearts to overflow with thanksgiving.
Perhaps the thing that we should be most thankful for is His Love! The ultimate expression of God’s love is seen in the Incarnation and Crucifixion. The Cross assures us of God’s endless love. His Word affirms His love for us. . .
Spend sometime now allowing your heart to overflow with thanks?
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