Engaging in God’s Heart for the Nations: 30-Day Devotionalഉദാഹരണം

The Sycamore Tree – Day 15

Mykaela Alvey, OMS’ Men for Missions

Luke 19:1-4 (ESV)

“He [Jesus] entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.”

Many of us heard about Zacchaeus through a church song we learned as kids. It took me a while after those days of singing about “a wee little man” to recognize how significant Zacchaeus’ experience is. What I like most about this story is that, at first glance, the tree Zacchaeus climbs looks relatively insignificant. Yet, it plays a crucial role in his salvation. If Zacchaeus had not climbed it, he wouldn’t have seen Jesus.

In contrast to the sycamore tree’s perceived minor role, the significant impact of COVID-19 permeated our lives for nearly two years, significantly altering not only how we live but also how we do missions. Despite these setbacks, missions haven’t stopped. Why?

Because we Christians are like the sycamore trees, as seen in the story of Zacchaeus. Small moments and little things that seem minor could actually be a branch for someone to climb and see Jesus. These little moments exist every day. We are living, breathing, and walking testimonies of God’s grace. Every interaction can be an opportunity for someone to meet Jesus.