Do You Have a Target?

Warriors Arise: January 28, 2022

Luke 19:1-5 (NKJV) Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”

Yesterday, I gave the analogy of being the glass and Jesus being the pitcher of Living Water. I shared about how it is time to come down off the shelf and position ourselves under, so Jesus can pour into us. How many of you know the dreams God has placed inside of you? I asked a few weeks ago for you to remember what God told you as a youth. Even Jesus, at age 12, knew He it was time to be about His Father's business. I had a conversation with my son yesterday, "Josiah, do you know there is a difference between fantasy and dreaming? A fantasy is something you think about and it grows in your mind, but you never put any action behind it becoming a reality. A dream is when you have a target and your efforts are focused on hitting that target every time you shot an arrow."

Zacchaeus had a dream, something motivating him into action. It is why he evaluated the situation and knew he couldn't get through the crowd. But I don't think his goal was to get through the crowd. A small person can get through a crowd. When Lydia was 11, Selah was 8, Charis was 5, we were at Disney. We wanted to be positioned to see the evening show at the castle. They were leading the way, but the rest of us got held up. They weaved through the crowd almost at lightning speed and we couldn't follow because we were big. My point, little people can get through a crowd.

I am confident Zacchaeus could have gotten through the crowd to Jesus. Zacchaeus wanted more than just to reach Jesus. He didn't want to be pushed up against everyone and maybe get a glimpse of Jesus or touch his cloak, he wanted to see Jesus. Maybe he had hoped that he would be seen by Jesus. He had questions in his heart and whirling in his mind. It is why I believe Jesus asked Zacchaeus to come down, so He could go to his house. Jesus was going to spend time answering his questions. Zacchaeus represents a glass wanting to be filled with worth, something of value, something pure.

Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector, not known for being the most upstanding people in the community. Tax collectors were known for cheating people, demanding more taxes than what the people were supposed to pay. Even though he had a job and it may have been important to those who governed, it was not valued by the majority. What is your first thought when someone says they work for the IRS? Good thoughts toward them? Answer honestly. What are your thoughts toward them?

That we know of, Zacchaeus did not need to be healed. He didn't have a daughter who was dying or a servant who was sick. He wasn't poor and his son wasn't demon possessed. So why was he so desperate to see Jesus? Why was he positioning himself to be seen by Jesus. Being short, he would have been overlooked most of his life. Anyone who is shorter than 5'5' knows that feeling on a regular basis.

I believe Zacchaeus wanted to be seen, he wanted to be valued. He wanted to do something of value. If he was only taller, then people would give him value, then they would respect him. But that was a fantasy. He couldn't change anything about his height. But he had a dream in his heart to be seen, to be valued. His target was before him, just to work his way through the crowd would not position him to be seen by Jesus. But to be up in the tree, maybe the tree Jesus would use to take shelter from the sun. Or maybe if he got himself high enough, Jesus would see him. Oh, to be seen by Jesus, to know you have value. To know you haven't been overlooked. Zacchaeus positioned himself up in the tree to see Jesus and to be seen by Jesus. Jesus was the target, but the position of connecting with the target was up in the tree. The vantage point was the tree. It was clear shot, a clear view of the dream. Encountering Jesus sets us in position to knowing the dream God placed inside of us and the ability to achieve that dream.

Father, I am incredibly thankful You see me. So many times I have bought into the lies that I am overlooked and of no value, but that couldn't be further from the truth. You have the best vantige point. You see me. You have given me value because You placed a dream inside of me that with You will be achieved. I will position myself to keep my eyes on You. You are the target, because in You I will know what I am to do, where I am to go and who I am to impact for Your kingdoms advancement. I worship You. You did not overlook me. I praise Your name, because You have called my name. I shout out in praise, because You have called me to come down and to come into Your presence. I will fellowship with You. I will sit and dine with You, because You have prepared a table for me even in the midst of my enemies. I will sit with You in Jesus' name amen.

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy Hand

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