Monday Devo
Scripture:
Luke 19:1-4
Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.
Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.
Commentary:
19:1 He entered Jericho ties this account closely with the preceding (see 18:35). Jericho in this period was quite different from the OT city. Herod the Great had obtained Jericho from Caesar Augustus and proceeded to build aqueducts, a fortress, a monumental winter palace, and a hippodrome in the vicinity of the more ancient town. Excavations have revealed much of the Herodian palace structures; they were built in stages, by expanding on a previous Hasmonean palace. One striking feature of the palace site is its huge pools, in one of which Herod probably had his own son drowned. Jericho boasted a tropical climate and excellent access to water for agriculture.
19:2 chief tax collector. This title is found nowhere else in the NT. Jericho was a major toll collection point for goods passing east and west.
19:2 chief tax collector. This title is found nowhere else in the NT. Jericho was a major toll collection point for goods passing east and west.
Questions:
- Zacchaeus was a wealthy man that was hated by his community. Being a tax collector had made him not only rich, but a traitor to his own people. Matt talked on Sunday about the risk that Zach took in order to see Jesus. He ran and climbed a tree, both of which would've been disgraceful for a man in his position. He wasn't supposed to be associating with people that he taxed, plus he was considered ceremonially unclean because of his occupation. So even being in that particular crowd of people was risky. You may have heard this saying, "You spell faith R-I-S-K." When was the last time you stepped out in faith and took a risk for Jesus?
- Many times we are hesitant to take that leap of faith because we might be uncertain as to whether or not it is actually God that is speaking to us. We might have a thought or an idea, we THINK it might be from God, but who can be sure? So we sit and wait and ponder... and never act. The truth is, if we were certain God was saying for us to act it would take no faith on our part. Do you think it would better to err on the side of action or inaction when it comes to stepping out in faith? Is there anything in your life right now that God might be nudging you towards that you have resisted?
Pray:
- That you would be willing to take risks for God.
- That God would grow your level of faith in him.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
6. Is the Bible God’s Word? Jesus proved He is God by rising from the dead and said the Old Testament was God’s Word and gave authority to the Apostles to write the words of the New Testament, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so that all the words of the Bible are God’s Word.
(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
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