Anyone Have a Need?

            Do you remember the childhood song “Zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he…”?  As a child I could identify with someone seemingly of short stature (in fact I still can!).  As a child, too, the message was clear that Jesus noticed and cared about everyone, no matter whom they are.  Zacchaeus was a notorious sinner in their eyes because he was a tax collector.  Perhaps he was in the tree because no one wanted him standing near them.  Whatever the case, Jesus noticed and cared. 

            People were everywhere.  They were loud and demanding His attention.  He was on His way to Jerusalem to pay for the sins of the world, a great weight and distraction in itself.  Yet He noticed and took the time to meet the needs of a lonely, rejected person who needed Him.  He changed His plans and went to Zacchaeus’ home, showing him great acceptance and honor. 

There are people all around us, in India and in the USA, “hanging in trees” – needy, empty, lonely, hurting and without hope.  Are we too preoccupied with our own busy life and personal needs to notice and reach out as Jesus did?  We can’t meet the needs of everyone, especially in India where need is so obvious and great, but when Jesus points out someone we can help, do we inconvenience ourselves to reach out and try to bring Jesus into their lives? 

In each conference I teach the Bible Overview – the plan of redemption through the Old and New Testaments.  I draw 20+ separate sketches, one for each period in Bible history.  Nancy hangs them on a rope we string across the front.  A few days ago she was doing this but didn’t have a chair in the front so stood while I talked.  The room was crowed, but a young pastor in the very back made his way forward through everyone, found and empty chair, and took it to Nancy while I was talking.  It would have been so easy for him to ignore the need, especially from the back.  I was really impressed so stopped the teaching to thank him.  That’s what Jesus would have done!

 Is there someone with a need you know but have been putting off reaching out to?  Make plans today to do what you can for them in Jesus’ name.  (February 5, 2019  Kurnool, India)

Luke 19:1-6 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.  5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

Thank God for those who have reached out to you in times of need.  Ask Him to help you notice those you can help or encourage in your life today.

Jerry Schmoyer

Christian Training Organization

Jerry@Schmoyer.net

SW.ChristianTrainingOrganization.org 

C t O Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
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