Tag: God sees you

Posted on

Intended consequences.

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. 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.” Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.” Luke‬ ‭19:1-7‬ ‭NLT‬

Luke writes this story in the context of the oldest city in Israel. This was the city the 12 spies surveyed and 10 of them thought it impossible to conquer; whose walls collapsed straight down into the earth.

This was a wealthy city. There was a sizable Roman garrison stationed there, and high ranking officers chose this city to retire from their military career. Jericho also held the biggest retirement population of Jewish priests.

What was Jesus doing in Jericho? Luke tells us after this story. The gospel writers often leave breadcrumbs of truth woven into these stories. One of them is the idea that people want to SEE Jesus. They’ve heard the stories spread from city to city, but they want to see for themselves. The other one is that Jesus (God) sees individuals, not just massive crowds. Jesus was the kind of guy that you could talk to and it felt like no one else was in the room. His gaze, his attention piercingly focused on just you. When Luke says this man wanted to see Jesus, it was far more than a looky-loo curiosity. Zach was drawn to Jesus because although he had everything a man would want, he was empty inside. Not all wealthy people are empty by the way, but Zach was.

Luke also points out that Zach was height challenged, which is super frustrating in a crowd. Jesus stopped, looked up and called out Zach’s name. He’d either heard of Zach’s reputation, or his name was murmured in the crowd as people looked ahead, or – the Holy Spirit gave Jesus the name well ahead of time in one of Jesus’ morning meetings with his Father. Having God see you and call out your name is a powerful experience.

As a young believer, I was in my bedroom, busy with something, when out of nowhere I heard my name called out. I didn’t think anyone else was home, so I just ignored it and thought was just hearing things. Then I heard my name a second time, it was quiet and clear. Being so new in my walk with Jesus, I just answered, “Yes God.” The moment moved to a nonverbal conversation with the Holy Spirit. That memory still gives me chills.

Jesus invited himself to Zach’s house for dinner. Zach was thrilled! Then Luke notes, the “people” were displeased. We know who those people were – the religious leaders. They were upset because of Zach’s reputation and they thought no self-aware holy person would be soiled and sullied by eating with a man like this! Ah, but it was quite the opposite wasn’t it? Zach can’t stain the Savior with his sin, but the Savior can remove the sin in Zach.

The religious leaders could not possibly imagine that Zach was so eager to change he gave half his wealth to the poor. Where would that money go? To the temple treasury, in a restricted fund which the Pharisees oversaw! Luke then tells us why Jesus came to Jericho – “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” The lost was both the religious leaders and Zach.

Prayer

Dad,
Of course it was wrong for the religious leaders to judge this man for his reputation. I have often judged far worse. I have judged for how people are dressed, or how they talk or how they carry themselves. I only see what they have or don’t have, own or don’t own. I have judged both rich and poor. And in that judgment, I cannot see what you always see. You see people in their need. You see their heart. You call their name, inviting yourself to meet with them. I need to see people as you see them or I will miss these amazing moments where their hearts are turned towards you and real change happens in their life. I don’t want to miss that opportunity to see you at work.

Posted on

Cannot see but set on being seen.

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening. They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by. So he began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” “Be quiet!” the people in front yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Luke‬ ‭18:35-39‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There is so much packed into this story Luke brings, highlighting Jesus’ compassion, attention to details, human needs as well as elements of faith. What I like is the triple surprise effect. The beggar, the BLIND beggar obviously had his spot at the gate. We’ve all seen the similar and consistent characters on our own neighborhood street corners. Surprise! That day wasn’t going to be normal at all. All the other days are mundane if not miserable, but this one – oh no – everything changed. Days can be like that for us, right? God can and often does surprise us.

The blind beggar man had lost his sight, but hadn’t lost his ears or voice. He had instincts, street-smarts and knew when something unusual was happening. I’m guessing he could sense trouble or the thrill of a crowd. What a great situational awareness skill! The crowd heard him, yet didn’t really see him. And, even though they themselves were excitedly talking, possibly even shouting, they did not feel the beggar needed to distract the miracle working Rabbi. Maybe the crowd had their own needs and we’re pressing in around Jesus, similar to the mob with the woman and her medical issue. Yet, the blind beggar would be heard.

There is something refreshing when someone has gumption, the nerve, the determined drive to be heard. Luke writes, “when Jesus heard.” The crowd had been listening, but Jesus was not yet close enough. Luke says “he stopped.” He told some of the people, bring him to me. You can feel the tension of the medical-powerball-lotto ticket numbers being read.

Surprise. Then Jesus does this thing I’ve only seen in one other situation. He asks the man, “what do you want me to do for you?” Now, before we might say, “isn’t it obvious!” I have to remind myself that “obvious” is only what WE see, not what God sees. The man that was paralyzed, you know where his friends lower him through Peter’s mother-in-law’s roof. It was obvious to everyone that he NEEDED to walk again. But Jesus knew he needed forgiveness! The paralyzed man by the pool of Bethesda only wanted a push into the miracle-stirred water. Yet Jesus asked him, “Do you want to be well?”

The blind man now SEEN by Jesus had an immediate response – “I want to see.” And surprise, Jesus says, “receive your sight!” Two miracles just like that. Being seen by Jesus, then seeing God! The first person his eyes would see was the only one he would ever really need to see!

Prayer

Dad,
How do I get the blind beggar skills without having to be blind myself? This guy was super-enabled! His grit and determination. And, his faith! Wow. I have great eyesight, yet there are so many times I do NOT see. I don’t see the needs of other. I don’t see your hand of grace and mercy. I don’t see Jesus nearly enough living in the mundane days. The blind beggar teaches me so many lessons. Thank you for these stories. Thank you for the surprises throughout the day. I am humbled.

Posted on

And lightning didn’t strike.

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“Think again, you fools! When will you finally catch on? Is he deaf—the one who made your ears? Is he blind—the one who formed your eyes? He punishes the nations—won’t he also punish you? He knows everything—doesn’t he also know what you are doing? The Lord knows people’s thoughts; he knows they are worthless!” Psalms‬ ‭94:8-11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Psalmist reminds me of something I think we forget about.

Just because God doesn’t immediately smite us for horrendous behavior does not mean we got or will get away with it!

God’s spokespersons (prophets) wrote about this all the time. Prior to this verse, he writes, “They kill widows and foreigners and murder orphans. “The Lord isn’t looking,” they say, “and besides, the God of Israel doesn’t care.” It’s odd that every FIRST act of violence, betrayal, or dishonesty has a moment of expectation that surely someone is watching and there will be swift and severe consequences for our actions. Nope. Rarely does that happen. And because we think we get away with it, the next dastardly deed is easier to do.

When I was in middle school I was walking home and chose the route that went through our school sports field. It was huge. As I walked I decided to see what would happened when I spoke a curse word out loud. My family was big time cussers and creatively used crass words in combinations that seemed to amplify their coarse effect on my ears. I had never cursed up to that point. Oh, most of my friends cursed like sailor siblings, but I didn’t. So out in the field I let it rip, yelling the word SH*T to the sky. I was not a follower of Jesus, but as you could tell, I did believe in God. What kept me from cussing all this time? One, my parents didn’t lead a great example in good behavior – smokers, drinkers, gamblers, and cursers. I didn’t really want to be like them. But two, I thought God could see and hear everything I did and would swiftly punish me for stepping out of line. Where’d I get that idea? I don’t know. Maybe a few Sunday School stories put that thought in my head. As I yelled out in the open, empty field, expecting a thunderclap and possibly lightning of God disapproving of my language, I just waited in silence. What? No lightning, no response from heaven? Nothing. In my little grand example of an experiment, I did think, “He’s not listening or does not care.” I was disappointed. I didn’t think it was all that “cool” to curse. I didn’t feel older, more mature or even more like a “bad boy.” I felt nothing. I decided in that field that day that cursing is really stupid and that I would never participate in it. My mother did tell me one time, “only uneducated people curse.” Whoa. That was odd hearing her say that. She explained that educated people use words that are far more effective than just grabbing a cheap, crass curse word. I never forgot that.

The point of the psalmist and of the prophets is this, just because God doesn’t immediately respond doesn’t mean he doesn’t hear, see or know what we are doing. He is neither threatened nor impressed with our creative ability to do evil. It simply breaks his heart to see us wallowing in our own stupidity. Sorry for the using the preschooler curse word, “stupid” so much, “stupid is as stupid does,” someone once said 😀.

Prayer

Dad,
This is the way it goes. Life and living is amazing! However, carrying, managing or trying to get away from our own sin, brokenness, and weakness is really hard and honestly, pretty crummy. I know you see, hear and know all and now that I’ve committed my entire life and future to you, it’s still embarrassing 😳. Of course I am thankful for your grace, mercy and most of all your patience.