SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 23
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a `sinner.’ ” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.” [Luke 19:7-9]
The thing that made Zacchaeus a ‘son of Abraham’ is the same thing that would make Josiah a ‘son of Abraham’.
Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws. [Genesis 26:5]
A child of Abraham is one who, like Abraham, doesn’t just hear God’s message but obeys it, lives it.
In response to God’s amazing mercy (as experienced through Jesus), this ‘sinner’ Zacchaeus decides to be generous, merciful, like Jesus.
Josiah also responds to God’s amazing mercy by obeying the Law of Moses to the letter; he leaves no stone unturned to root out all evidence of godless religion and its brutal, immoral practices.
Neither of them do this in order to merit God’s love and forgiveness; no, they are already loved and forgiven.
Both of them do it BECAUSE God has been merciful to them.
I am loved and forgiven, so are you.
We do not need to do anything to merit God’s love and forgiveness.
Like Abraham, we already belong to God and are heirs of His blessing.
The only question is, will be live out that blessing, will we honour God by how we respond?
Obeying God’s law (which for us are the Commands of Jesus) is something we do because we are loved and forgiven, and now desire to respond with our own love and obedience.
This is what makes us children of Abraham!
It is those who KNOW God’s mercy that SHOW God’s mercy; it is those that KNOW God’s generosity that SHOW God’s generosity.
Abraham’s life showed it, Josiah’s life showed it, Zacchaeus’ life showed it…
Does mine?
PRAYER:
Lord, may my life be living proof that I appreciate Your love and forgiveness, a testimony to my love and obedience to You!
‘Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.’ This verse summarizes the passage well. Josiah did what God expects His children to do – Love God. Serve Him. Let the main thing be the main thing and that is – God – obey the Word of the Lord. As His children, we are able to all things as long as it is according to the Word of the Lord. Do that and I have life – today, tomorrow and all my tomorrows. Do this and LIVE! That’s what the Master said. As His child, I must obey my Father in Heaven.
May my life be a living letter that I am His child.
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
Though I may wonder, I still will follow;
Though I may wonder, I still will follow;
Though I may wonder, I still will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me; No turning back, no turning back.
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.