I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days I set out during the night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me except the one I was riding on. – Nehemiah 2:11-12

Nehemiah had just been granted permission from his King to leave and go rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. No one knew of the plan except Nehemiah, the King, and the Queen. The circle was small. He kept these things to himself. But why stay for three days and then set out? Why not ride into town and throw a party, rally the people, and get this thing rollin’? He moved slowly but deliberately.

I think Nehemiah was sure. He had heard God speak. He had prayed. He had found favor with the king. He now moved slowly and deliberately, with great confidence.

(more…)

this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him. – Ezra 7:6

Ezra is about to set out on a mission from the king. Because the hand of God was on Ezra, the king gave him everything he asked for. But he had to ask.

I find myself praying that God would give me favor. Sometimes that’s as far as my actions go.

“God, give me favor here or there.”

“God, I really think you might be leading me here, so show me favor by making something happen.”

Then I sit. I wait. And nothing happens. Then I figure that it is not in God’s plans. Must not be in his interest to favor me in this way. But I never ask. I don’t take any action. I don’t move ahead to see if the favor is there, I just stop and wait for some . . . some something to happen. Life wastes away.

(more…)

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

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. 10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” – Luke 19:5-9

Jesus clearly states his mission. To seek and save. Isn’t it also the Coast Guard who many time have a mission of search and rescue? Hmm, maybe it is a similar thing.

So here we see the purpose of Christ. Zacchaeus had just climbed a tree to get a better view of Jesus. He was a short fellow and needed a boost. Probably would have been bad manners to ask one of the locals to allow a tax collector to get on your shoulders like a kid at a parade.

But why would Jesus seek out Zacchaeus to save? Why not some of the others?

Maybe because Zacchaeus was looking. Maybe the others were just spectating. He cared enough to get a glimpse of God that he made an effort to get in a tree for a better view.

Jesus put Zacchaeus in his sites and the mission was on.

(more…)

Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.” – Luke 17:20-21

I can remember our first motorcycle, a Honda Trail 70. My uncle had it. His kids were grown and out of the house. One day, during a visit, he said “I should bring that bike down and let you guys have it, since my kids are gone.” I wanted to scream “YES! YES, YOU SHOULD!” What is cooler than having your own dirt bike as a kid? My uncle left that day and I continued to think about the bike. He would visit again, but no bike. Hmm, maybe next time. Every time he would visit I would look for the bike. No luck. I kept looking, waiting to unlock the world of motorcycling.

One spring day he pulled up and poking out the back of his Olds station wagon was the Trail 70. Score.

(more…)