I was reading the story of Zaccheus recently, and I was struck by something that I hadn’t given thought to before.
Reading this story, no one can deny the transformation that happened to Zaccheus. But as I was reading it this time, I noticed that while Zaccheus didn’t know what would happen, his actions showed that he expected something to happen.
Whether it was some wisdom he hoped to glean from a sermon of Jesus, or he wanted to see a miracle, or maybe even get to interact with Jesus, Zaccheus was expecting something to happen.
As I pondered this, God asked me, “How often are you as expectant as Zaccheus?”
That question was like a punch in the gut.
Zaccheus must have known who Jesus was and some of the things He had done, so Zaccheus did everything he could just to get a glimpse of Jesus as He passed through his town.
“How often do you go out of your way to seek Jesus expectantly?” He asked me again.
Too often, I don’t approach prayer, reading His word, or even worship with the expectancy that He will transform me or others.
I am like the story of the town during a bad drought who came to church one evening to pray for rain, and only one little girl brought an umbrella, except I am not the little girl; I am the townsfolk.
I am thankful God gave me new eyes to see this passage and reminded me that just wanting transformation is not enough, I need to expect that God can and will transform anything and anyone.
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