Being Transformed

Today, as I thought about my last week of Summer session at Nazarene Bible College, and the work that was being worked out during this class, I realized that God has transformed my life—even while taking a class that was taught hermeneutics. The major project for this class was the preparation, and delivery of a sermon. I prayerfully began reading Luke 19:1-10. As I read, I could really identify with the character names Zacchaeus. There were many things in my life that was imposed on me as a result of who my parents were. I could relate to the “Oh Great It’s One of Those” religious attitude, and being blocked—or not taken seriously—when God called me to the Ministry. My desire was to see Jesus, but I grew up with a fear that God would treat me the same way that people in the Church treated me. In the end, the message that came from this message was to set everything aside, get out on a limb to see Jesus as He is.

Next, came the reality that Jesus saw Zacchaeus, Knew Zacchaeus and called Zacchaeus out of his circumstances. At a young age, I realized that Jesus saw me for who I am, including the hurt and pain caused by those who judged me according to the reputation of my family, and I also realized that Jesus knows my name. Not only my name, but everything about me. He knows my faults, he knows my hurts, he knows everything about me right down to the very fiber of my being. But there was another point here, Jesus called Zacchaeus to come out of the tree to share in a meal.

This is important because in Jewish culture, hospitality, more specifically, sharing a meal with a person is to declare that one to be joined with them in the Kingdom of God. So when Jesus chose someone who was considered to be a social and a religious pariah to be in Heaven.

It is no wonder that those who were religious threw a fit. This is supposed to be the Son of God, why did He not choose me, one who follows all the rules? Jesus is looking for potential. He is looking for someone who is ready and willing to set aside those things that would hinder us to go out on a limb. 

When we have a desire to see Jesus, and Jesus looks our direction, sees us, calls us by name, and invites us to be in the Kingdom of God with Him, and we respond with a joyful yes, and turning away from those things that hinder us from a relationship with God, we can know with certainty that we are the children of God.

Jesus looks at us, knows each of us down to the very fiber of our being, and desire to be in relationship with you. Friend, come to know Jesus for yourself, remember that Jesus looks at our potential, and responds to our needs.