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Lesson Eleven<\/p>\n
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TWO RICH MEN CHOOSE<\/p>\n
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Memory Verse: Luke 19:10<\/a><\/strong> For quite a few years now our neighborhood has had a block party picnic. It\u2019s a time when everyone on our street gathers in someone\u2019s volunteered backyard and enjoys time together. Each year it is on Sabbath (Saturday), and we not only don\u2019t go, but we tend to try to be away completely for the duration of the picnic.<\/span><\/p>\n One year the invitation arrived, and the picnic was on Sunday! The day rolled around, and it was a busy one with lots of things on our to-do list. My husband was fairly insistent that we go to the picnic. I was much more recalcitrant\u2014my list was too long; I wasn\u2019t in the mood; and we\u2019d never gone before, so why now? But he won me over and we walked down the street to join the festivities.<\/span><\/p>\n We turned into the yard and were met with friendly faces running toward us. \u201cWe knew you would come!\u201d they said repeatedly. Turns out the neighborhood council had purposely planned the picnic on a Sunday so we could come. Unbeknownst to us, they\u2019d been watching.<\/span><\/p>\n Unbeknownst to us, they\u2019d been watching.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Zacchaeus wasn\u2019t a favorite in Jericho. He wasn\u2019t on anyone\u2019s list of do-gooders in the town. He\u2019d gotten to his position by cheating, skimming, and overcharging. Now wealthy in material things, he was poor in friends and relationships. Excluded from parties, the synagogue, and ignored, his life couldn\u2019t have been that great in the city. But unbeknownst to those who had written him off, he\u2019d been watching.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n From the early days of John the Baptist, words of conviction were sifting into his soul. He\u2019d heard of this Teacher for the past three-plus years and now He was passing through Zacchaeus\u2019 hometown. Zacchaeus had heard the Teacher even had a tax collector as one of his closest disciples. Curious he aimed to get a glimpse as Jesus passed by from the vantage point of a sycamore tree.<\/span><\/p>\n While lessons from this story could go in any number of directions and it wouldn\u2019t be hard to do so, let me focus on lessons related to children. First, they are watching. Children are perched in sycamore trees of their own. They are watching as adults pass by, whether they are the parent, grandparent, or church member. They are curious to discover Jesus. Will they see Him as you pass by their watchful perch?<\/span><\/p>\n They are curious to discover Jesus. Will they see Him as you pass by their watchful perch?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Second, children aren\u2019t always loveable. If we\u2019re honest, there are days when we don\u2019t actually like our children. This can be due to terrible twos, argumentative pre-teens, or independent-thinking-without-experience teenagers. Most bad behavior is a day or a phase, but sometimes it lasts and lasts until we don\u2019t know what to do. If this is your experience, remember Zacchaeus. His behavior on the outside wasn\u2019t great, but inside the Holy Spirit was working. And one day He met Jesus.<\/span><\/p>\n That brings us to lesson three. Everyone at some point must come down from their tree. Christianity isn\u2019t about living in trees and watching others. It\u2019s about coming down to meet and walk with Jesus. Continue to invite your children down to meet Jesus. Don\u2019t just let them simply watch life but invite them to a spiritual walk with Jesus and you.<\/span><\/p>\n Finally, as I have said before and can\u2019t emphasize enough: One of the best places to meet Jesus is at the dining room table. Fellowship with your children. Eat with them. Talk of spiritual things. Teach lessons of a loving spirit just as Jesus sat and taught Zacchaeus in his home. Do this every day and all will be renewed.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_id=”digging-deeper” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Arial||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” header_font=”Playfair Display|900||on|||||” header_font_size=”20px” header_letter_spacing=”1px” header_6_font=”Arial||||||||” header_6_font_size=”7px” header_6_line_height=”2.5em” inline_fonts=”Arial” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The story of Zacchaeus is familiar to most of us. What may be less familiar is where in Jesus\u2019 ministry this event occurred. It was as Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem to attend the Passover for the last time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Zacchaeus lived in Jericho. Those headed to Jerusalem would travel the Jericho Road to the city, pass through it, and then continue. There were many crowds on the road since Passover was the following week. Zacchaeus\u2019 encounter with Jesus was either as He approached the city or as He was leaving it. But most likely since Jesus went to a meal at Zacchaeus\u2019 house it was as He entered the city.<\/span><\/p>\n What Zacchaeus couldn\u2019t have understood then was that literally a week later, the Man he encountered on the narrow Jericho streets that completely changed his life, would be crucified and resurrected. How important it was that Zacchaeus followed the promptings of the Holy Spirit to seek Jesus and give his heart and life to Him that day!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n This is a week to practice some of the lessons from Zacchaeus.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Merle Poirier<\/b> writes from Silver Spring, Maryland, where she works as the operation manager for <\/span>Adventist Review<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>Adventist World<\/span><\/i> magazines as well as the designer for <\/span>KidsView<\/span><\/i>, a magazine for 8-12-year-olds. She enjoys spending time with her family including being a grandmother to two active little boys, who greatly enjoy Starting With Jesus, and a granddaughter, who\u2019s delighting everyone with her smiles. She is blessed to have all three living close by, continually bringing joy and delight.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#000000″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”569.9px” custom_padding=”|133px|2px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/startingwithjesus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Renew-logo-b.png” title_text=”Renew-logo-b” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”71%” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”left” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Further Study: Luke 19:1-10; 12:13-21<\/a><\/strong>; <\/span>The Desire of Ages<\/i><\/a>, pp. 552-556<\/a>; <\/span>Christ\u2019s Object Lessons,<\/i><\/a> pp. 252-259<\/a>; The Bible Story<\/em>, vol. 8, pp. 49-52<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/h1>\n
Digging Deeper\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n
Making it Real<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n
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_________<\/h6>\n