30 Days - an Overview of the Bible in Just Thirty Daysનમૂનો

God Can Use a Crisis

I like to think of myself as young. Recently, I heard that middle age runs from thirty-five to fifty-eight years of age. On that basis, not only am I not young, I am well past even middle-aged!

People often speak of being middle-aged as a time of ‘midlife crisis’. A midlife crisis can be caused by ageing itself, or ageing in combination with changes, problems, or regrets over work, career, relationships, children and physical changes associated with aging. Individuals experiencing a midlife crisis are often searching for an undefined dream or goal. We may have a deep sense of remorse for goals not yet accomplished. We may fear humiliation among more successful colleagues. We often desire to achieve a feeling of youthfulness.

At the root of all these things is a sense of something being missing. There is often a tragic wisdom in mid-life crises: we realise the emptiness of much of what we used to strive for (even if what we replace it with is not always particularly wise).

The good news is that God can use any crisis and turn it around. With Jesus it’s never too late to make a new start and ensure that your life is set in the right direction.

Luke 19:1 - 10

Zacchaeus was probably in mid-life. He was old enough to be at the top of his profession, but young enough to climb a tree. He was a wealthy man. He had the status of being a chief tax collector with people working under him and had no doubt been promoted many times. He had success but at a cost.

Tax collectors had an appalling reputation for corruption and collaborating with the occupying Roman power. He had worked hard for the sake of his family but they must have faced ostracism owing to his line of work and unpopularity.

His parents had called him Zacchaeus meaning ‘the righteous one’ – but now perhaps he had no time for God. Religious people regarded him as a ‘sinner’. I have often wondered whether Zacchaeus was going through a mid-life crisis! Whether he was or not, he found the answer that so many people are searching for in his encounter with Jesus.

1. Why should you want to see Jesus?

Zacchaeus provides us with an example to follow.

• Two things you may realise:

First, he realised he had a need. Despite all his money and success there was still something missing.

Second, he realised that Jesus might provide the key. ‘He wanted to see who Jesus was’. The most important question we can ever ask is, ‘Who is Jesus?’

• Four things you might not realise:

First, you might not realise that you cannot hide from Jesus. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus without Jesus seeing him –perhaps he felt ashamed. But none of us can hide. Jesus knew him already. He knew his name. For a Hebrew, if someone knew your name, they knew a great deal about you. God knows all about you.

Second, you might not realise that Jesus loves us in spite of our sin (Romans 5:8). Jesus picked him out in a crowd. Jesus sees us wherever we are. He was on his way to Jerusalem to die on a cross for us all. He was going to die for Zacchaeus and for you and me (Galatians 2:20).

Third, you might not realise that Jesus wants to know you as he wanted to know Zacchaeus. This is the heart of the Christian faith: knowing Jesus Christ.

Fourth, you might not realise that Jesus requires a response. This is a moment of high drama. Jesus says, ‘Come down immediately.’ Whatever you have done in your life and whatever your imperfection, Jesus loves you and wants to be in a relationship with you. But he requires a response. In a dramatic moment of encounter, Jesus said, ‘Come down immediately’.

2. How should you respond to Jesus?

Follow Zacchaeus’s example:

First, he ‘came down’. He obeyed Jesus and humbled himself. Second, he did not put it off. He came down ‘at once’. Third, he ‘welcomed him’. Fourth, he did so ‘gladly’. At last he had found true happiness – but in an unexpected way. Fifth, he was not put off by the crowd’s attitude. They were shocked and said in effect, ‘He is not the religious type’. But Zacchaeus didn’t care what the people thought.

3. What difference does Jesus make?

A total transformation took place in Zacchaeus’ attitude, his life, his family and in the society around him.

• Your attitude

Zacchaeus completely changed his attitude towards his possessions. His experience of Jesus put everything else in perspective. It was no longer, ‘How much can I get?’ but rather, ‘How much can I give?’. He started to get his life sorted out by paying back what he owed and giving generously (v.8). It is a relationship with Jesus Christ that enables you to do this.

• Your life

Like Zacchaeus you can find forgiveness and a totally new start. The mess of the past has been cleared up. You are freed from the rat-race. You discover that your future is secure through a relationship with Christ which will go on forever.

• Your family

Jesus said, ‘Today salvation has come to this house’.Everyone in the household is included.

• Your society

The poor benefited. He gave half his possessions to the poor. Justice was done: those who had been cheated were repaid. You, like Zacchaeus, can be part of God’s transformation of society.

Today, Jesus says to you, ‘Come immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ How will you respond?

You don’t have to go through a crisis to receive Jesus. He says to each of us that he wants to stay at our house today. If you have not yet done so why not invite him in today? Ask him to show you how much he loves you. Think about the fact that he died for you. Ask him to show you if there is anything you need to put right in your life. If there is, why not follow Zacchaeus’ example and do it right away?

Prayer

Lord, thank you that you can use a crisis to transform my life for the better. May today be a new start. I invite you into my heart. Help me to encounter you afresh today and I may say, ‘Today salvation has come to this house.’

References

© Nicky Gumbel, 2024

This reading plan is adapted from the book 30 Days by Nicky Gumbel. It is published by Hodder and Stoughton in the UK, and by HarperCollins Christian Publishing in the USA.