The Personal Encounter
The Personal Encounter
Luke 19:5 NLT
When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”
This podcast is a repost, was originally published on September 28, 2017.
Series: Zacchaeus’s Encounter
The Bible says Zacchaeus was a rich man who had a desire to see Jesus.
To fulfill his desire, Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a tree to see Jesus as He passed that way.
Zacchaeus was not sitting on the tree calling out for attention. But God saw the desire he carried and the effort he put into seeing that desire being accomplished. God also saw his weaknesses and challenges.
He was a rich tax collector which meant he made money in unwise and wrong ways. Even though that is not pure and holy in God’s standards, God did not let that stand in the way of Him accepting Zacchaeus’s love.
There were so many things that could have disqualified him from loving God, but he still loved God. When you love God, God will go out of the way to receive your love and your affection for Him.
Jesus did not call out all the people in the crowd by their name. He called only Zacchaeus. He noticed Zacchaeus went to the extent of running ahead and climbing a tree, laying down his pride and ego, all to get one look at Jesus. When you do that, Heaven notices it. God cares about every little sacrifice you make in your walk with God.
Zacchaeus desired to have a glimpse of Jesus but Jesus rewarded his desire with a personal private time in his home.
When you run ahead after Jesus, He will invite Himself into every area of your life. You may have a genuine hungry desire in your heart for Jesus. God wants to fulfill your desire more than you imagine. As you give your life to Him, may you have seasons of divine encounter and divine intimacy. More than a glimpse, may you have a very personal relationship where there is exchange of character, a real communal relationship between you and Jesus. God’s plan for you will never fail.
Go that extra mile, run ahead a little longer than you would normally and wait for God to reveal Himself to you.
Psalm 147:2–3 reveals God's heart as a Restorer rather than a Punisher. Although Israel went into exile because of its own rebellion, God did not abandon His people. Instead, He promised to restore Jerusalem, bring the exiles home, heal the brokenhearted, and bind up their wounds.
The message reminds us that while God may use friends, pastors, counselors, or loved ones to help us, true healing and restoration ultimately come from the Lord. His restoration reaches every part of our lives—our hearts, relationships, health, finances, emotions, and spiritual walk.
God knows every wound, including those hidden from others. Unlike people, who can only comfort from the outside, He sees the deepest parts of our hearts and heals completely. His healing is so complete that even the scars of past pain lose their power to define us.
The devotion encourages believers to fix their eyes on God instead of relying solely on human help. No matter how far someone has drifted, how many mistakes they have made, or how broken they feel, God is still calling them back. His desire is to restore, heal, and make all things beautiful in His perfect timing.
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