Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Our Place Is His Place

When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” (Luke 19:5)

Having company during the holidays is often a time of anticipation. Sometimes it is eager anticipation. We are excited about someone’s visit and can hardly wait until they come. But sometimes it is anxious anticipation as the questions begin to surface. Are the accommodations satisfactory? Is the house clean enough? When the visitor arrives, we may say, “Make yourself at home. Our house is your house!” But as the old saying goes, “Houseguests and fish are a lot alike. After three days, they begin to stink up the place!” Is our home truly their home? Is our place really their place?
Have you ever felt like you were not good enough to be accepted? We can spend a lifetime trying to live down bad choices and sinful consequences. It seems like some people never let other people forget the low places they’ve passed through. Being ashamed of our place in life is a painful place to be. But the truth is that God is very familiar with where we are. He knows our place better than anyone else. And still He comes.
Whether you live in the mansion on the hill or the shack across the track, God knows your place. And He wants it to be His place. Our “place” in life is not just the house we live in. God is not impressed with what we are consumed by. He is concerned about our spiritual place in life. We can learn some lessons today from the encounter between a sinner and a Savior.

I. WHEN JESUS COMES TO OUR PLACE WE MUST DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO SEE HIM. Zaccheus was in a desperate place. Not only was he up a tree, he was out on a limb. All of his people were watching this short man climb up to a new vantage point. He was desperate to see Jesus. Zaccheus was in a dangerous place. The greater danger was not being in the right place when Jesus was passing by. The danger today is that we remain in a place that is a safe, self-centered place and it is too insulated from danger and risk. Zaccheus was ready to risk it all.
II. WHEN JESUS COMES TO OUR PLACE HE IS LOOKING FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR PLACE. Zaccheus was a stranger among his own people. Hated and ostracized by most, he would have had very few people who cared about him. Then Jesus came. Jesus still looks for those on the outside…looking in, or those on the downside…looking up. He may be looking for you today. He is looking in your place.
III. WHEN JESUS COMES TO OUR PLACE, HE WILL INVITE HIMSELF INTO OUR HOUSE. Zaccheus did not issue an invitation... he only responded to one. Zaccheus did not initiate the personal contact...Jesus knew his name. Jesus speaks our name at some point to give us an invitation. Zaccheus' place became Jesus' place.
IV. WHEN JESUS COMES TO OUR PLACE, HE BRINGS JOY WITH HIM. When Zaccheus responded, he did it with joy! The joy came because Zaccheus realized he was important to God. The joy came after Zaccheus repented and changed his life direction. The joy came when Jesus came to stay. Jesus still brings joy to our place.
WILL OUR PLACE BECOME HIS PLACE?

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