“Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.”
Memory Verse: James 2:18 “But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”
How many times do you think about the things going on around you and feel very unhappy? If you happen to fall amongst those who have nothing to worry about, massive congratulations to you but some people have really bothering things they worry about. Not because they generally like to worry but because life has positioned them in some situations that is very disturbing for them and unless they see a way out, they can naturally become unhappy about this from time to time.
The world calls these obstacles ‘barriers’. The simple definition is that barriers are something which puts you in a place with little opportunity to progress. The most physical barriers we see are walls, gates or stoppers and they are just there to prevent people from passing those boundaries. Unless there is another way out, an individual could be stuck in that environment for a very long time.
Picture a house with no doors or windows; even more think of how unfortunate it is if any one lives in such house. The person is restricted and unless there is another way out, their life will continue to revolve around that building and this was the situation with Zacchaeus. The man was short and there are things around him that he simply would not even know existed unless he was positioned advantageously to see them.
Zacchaeus knew he was short but had so much desire to see Jesus, he was desperate enough that he took action, one that not only got him noticed but also gave him an opportunity all the tall people did not have. Jesus wined and dined with Zacchaeus, Luke 19:5-10. The text from today’s reading shows us that Zacchaeus ran ahead of the crowd to position himself in a place where he could see Jesus “on a sycamore tree” and his actions and efforts paid off, He saw Jesus.
Many of the things we see as barriers in our lives may actually be barriers but until we take action against them, we may remain in that one position for a very long time. If we truly are determined to make a change out of that situation, then our attitude towards the change we desire will align with the result we expect to see.
Being stuck inside a building and accepting it is different from being stuck and constantly finding a way out. The bible did not say how long Zacchaeus had tried to see Jesus but we are sure that he got a breakthrough when he took action against what seems like his barrier.
Are you really serious about moving forward, ask the Holyspirit for help on an action you could take Against that barrier, He will lead you through it and you will come out successful.
Don’t wait for God to do what you have to do for yourself, once you have prayer and gotten an inspiration from the spirit of God, you must take action.
PRAYERS:
- Father you for you for your endless mercies
- Teach me the way to go Lord, help me to take action in areas that matters
- I renounce and denounce laziness, bring me out from those barricades and barriers Lord
- Forgive me of my shortcomings o Lord and help me to live above sinReceive my sacrifice of praise for in Jesus mighty name I pray, AMEN.
