Devotions this week based on Sunday’s Message: The Source of Love! (LISTEN HERE)
What you see determines how you love!
Three people see someone in this account. As you read through these words, note, “What do people see?” As a result of what they see, how do they love?
Luke 19 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 being a short man he could not, because of 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. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.’ ”
Zacchaeus saw Jesus. His curiosity got the better of him and he took the day off to find a spot on Jesus’ route to see Jesus. As a short man, he found a sycamore fig tree to climb. He would have been content to see Jesus pass by, but he got to see Jesus up close and personal. (We’ll come back to Zacchaeus…)
Jesus saw Zacchaeus. Jesus could have just walked through Jericho and never noticed Zacchaeus. He could have been focused on his agenda and kept moving, but Zacchaeus caught his attention. So he stopped. He looked up and saw Zacchaeus.
But Jesus saw more than a man in a tree. He saw a man in search of answers. He saw a conscience that was troubled. He saw a man that fell heavily under the judgment of the religious leaders. He saw a man who was rich in earthly treasures, but poor in spiritual treasures.
Jesus saw past Zacchaeus’ height. He saw past his social status. He saw past his cheating and decided to love Zacchaeus because Zacchaeus needed to see Jesus for who he was: The Messiah…the Savior. Jesus brought salvation to Zacchaeus. He brought forgiveness. He worked a change of heart. He loved Zacchaeus through all the mess that was Zacchaeus.
The religious leaders saw a sinner. The religious elites were appalled that Jesus would spend time with Zacchaeus. All they could see was a sinner. But they weren’t concerned with Zacchaeus’ soul, they were just concerned with their status. To love Zacchaeus would be to let go of their personal status with people. They loved themselves more than Zacchaeus and so expressed loathing, not love.
When Zacchaeus saw Jesus, not just in passing, but saw him for who he was, his loving, forgiving Savior, Zacchaeus loved in return.
8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”
What you see determines how you love.
Zacchaeus saw Jesus and loved Jesus in return and the people he cheated.
Jesus saw Zacchaeus and loved Zacchaeus with his time and his forgiveness.
The Pharisees saw a sinner they wanted nothing to do with and so lacked love.
What do you see?
What you see determines how you love.
Apply: Notice when you notice people. What do you “see” in them? How does it affect how you love them?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for fully seeing me and expressing your amazing love. Help me to see people as you do and express genuine love to them. AMEN.