KNOW: RICH AND SEEKING

THE PRAYER      

• Find a quiet space.      
• Breathe deeply and recognise God with you in this moment.      
• When you are ready, speak to God about this time together.      
• After you've finished praying, go through the following passage a few times slowly and thoughtfully (preferably out loud).   
• Allow God to meet you in these words.

The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it. Psalm 145:14-15 (NLT)

THE FIRST READING

Read this passage slowly (preferably out loud) as you allow God to meet you in these words. Pay attention to anything God might be saying as you do.

He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:1-10 (ESV)

RESPONSE

Take some time to respond (write down, draw, pray, etc.) to God’s prompting in the first reading of the passage. What is he highlighting and saying to you through this?

THE SECOND READING

Read the passage again (slowly and preferably out loud) through the “lens” of what The Spirit highlighted in the first reading. Listen for anything else the Spirit might be saying.

He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:1-10 (ESV)

THE REFLECTION

We are so good at being “fine” aren’t we?

From parties to church services and beyond; we smile, nod, and offer our platitudes to one another without ever really seeing the actual person standing in front of us. I understand why we do this. I am as guilty of it as anyone. It takes time to see people. It can be uncomfortable. Very often, we can be so busy wading through the mud of our own challenges that we simply don’t have the strength or energy to do so. Whatever the reason, we regularly miss the fact that most people are anything but fine. "Most people are sitting next to their own pool of tears" (Trevor Hudson). Zacchaeus was one such person. Like so many of us who hide behind the many filters of our time, he hid behind wealth. He was rich, a chief tax collector no less. By all accounts, he had all that he needed and more. Yet, apparently, he still lacked something that found him hanging around the edges of a growing crowd, seeking Jesus.

I wonder if you know any people like this. People whose Instagram accounts, bank balances, and postal codes shout, “I’m fine,” while on the inside they are seeking. I wonder if you are someone like this? I certainly am. Some days more than others, to be sure, but I like to pretend that I’m fine. I find it hard to be honest with myself, let alone other people, about my disappointments, fears, insecurities, and regrets. I find it hard to be honest with God. Thankfully God is not easily fooled. He sees my searching heart despite all the ways I try to hide it, and he doesn’t despise me for it.

If we are to become people who really see and know those with whom we share our world, we must get a firm grip on this truth. We ourselves are fully known.

As you go about your day today, it might be helpful to ask God to show you those who, despite appearances, are searching. Perhaps he might give you a word, action, or silent prayer to serve them.

More than that, it might be helpful to take some time to be honest with God about your own seeking. What are the places of need, disappointment, or pain that you need him to meet you in today? How might you invite him to do so?