Living Out the Faith
Luke 19:1-10
Yes, Zacchaeus was determined that he was going to see a miracle take place in his own life. He was willing to make whatever changes were necessary in order to experience this new life he so craved. Finally, Zacchaeus was willing to live out that to which he had made a verbal commitment. "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold." Impressive. Zacchaeus saw the kind of change that was needed in his life and he made it. He put his money where his heart was. Jesus has that kind of effect on people. He can make the greedy, generous. He can make the weak, strong. He can make the resentful, kind. His touch can work miracles where people are searching and are willing to change. Let's use an analogy.
Sometimes a person only blossoms out, only shows his hidden strength , his hidden gifts, after another individual has invested a little love and except for that investment of love, the virtues and the talents of many gifted individuals would be unknown to the world. Such was the case with Snow Man, except that Snow Man wasn't a person but a horse.
Snow Man was a nameless, gray white gelding that Harry De titles.Leyer picked up cheaply from a horse auction. The only bid for the horse came from a glue factory. Harry trained Snow Man, and the horse served well at the girls' school where Harry was the riding master. However, when the school closed for the summer, a neighbor made a generous offer for Snow Man, and Harry could not afford to refuse it. So Snow Man had a new homer.
Snow Man, however, liked his old home. Time and time again he jumped the neighbor's high fences and returned to Harry. Finally, Harry bought his horse back.
In that series of events, though, was a clue to Snow Man's real greatness. Snow Man was a natural jumper, and the horse that once jumped fences to return to his loving previous master later jumped at Madison Square Garden for two national titles
That is what Zacchaeus needed as well. Zacchaeus knew that there was something more in life and he was determined to experience it. He was willing to make whatever change was necessary in life to see his dream come true. After he had felt the touch of the Master s hand he could experience that kind of a conversion.
How can we tell it is real? You know a tree by its fruit. What kind of fruit are you bearing? Have you experienced the touch of the Master's hand? Have you experienced new life in Christ? If you really want it enough to change it can be yours. All Christ wants is to bring out the best that is within you. He did it for Zacchaeus. He can do it for each of you as well.
Questions to Ponder
Do you want Christ to bring out the best that is within you?
Do you want to live out your faith?
Are you willing to put your money where your heart is?
In His Service,
Terry Phillips
