Recently I had the marvelous opportunity to embark upon a mission trip in New York. During the trip we had the chance to partner with The Legacy Center of New York (http://tlcnyc.org/). This group is inspiring change in a way that I have never seen before. As Pastor Chris Durso said to us "ministry begins with hello" and boy is that where they started. After eating lunch, our group of 21 students and adult volunteers slipped into an unassuming office. I had no clue that my life would be changed just by walking though those doors, and even more after working in Breezy Point. We walk in and learned more about one of two wonderful ladies; Diana. Diana stood before us and began telling us the journey she took to The Legacy Center. After coming to The Legacy Center from corporate America she faced a dilemma that many of us face in our jobs daily. Because the organizations funding source, she could not go into the communities they are helping to restore and spread the gospel! I've faced that very issue in secular and "religious" organizations. When she asked God how she was going to share Him in a setting that was not permitted to bring Him up first under the funding they have, she said God directed her to the story of Zacchaeus. Now for anyone that's grown up in church you know the song, "Zacchaeus was a wee little man..." :) (Stop singing and get back to reading...LOL).
Zacchaeus was a man that was short in stature and great in power. He was a wealthy tax collector, which probably means he was great at his job. That also means people were probably not big fans of his. Anyways, Zacchaeus was intrigued by this guy named Jesus, so he did the strangest thing. He CLIMBED A TREE TO SEE JESUS! (Seriously, read it! Luke 19!) Zacchaeus didn't want Jesus to do anything, he just wanted to get a glimpse of the man EVERYONE was talking about. From that one action Zacchaeus drew the interest of Jesus. In the end Jesus asked to visit Zacchaeus' home to stay for a bit, while others mocked Jesus for visiting the house of the "sinner".
Diana said after reading this story her question to God was "OK, what am I supposed to take from that?" His reply was both simple and life changing....."BE THE TREE". Let me tell you, that simple revelation BLEW MY MIND TO PIECES! I tweeted it, call my parents, friends, and anyone else that would listen with it! BE THE TREE! All of a sudden the following scripture became so clear to me: "And I, if I (Jesus) be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." (John 12:32). God simply asks us to live a life that lifts him up, not just in word, but in action. Are your day to day actions ones that are lifting Jesus into plain view? Are you serving Him in a matter that makes someone want to climb a tree to get a glimpse of what you know? If you would take this simple action and be the tree that acts as a bridge to Christ how many people around you would come to know Him as their savior, confidant, provider, and friend? Take a minute to think: Have you been a tree? That fixed object that people can use as a bridge to Christ? If so, how?
Take a minute to leave a comment below. Who knows, your comment may be the bridge moment someone needs to become a tree for another person. I know Diana was the tree for me, so I feel compelled to be that for others daily....just BE THE TREE (planted by the water)!
Zacchaeus was a man that was short in stature and great in power. He was a wealthy tax collector, which probably means he was great at his job. That also means people were probably not big fans of his. Anyways, Zacchaeus was intrigued by this guy named Jesus, so he did the strangest thing. He CLIMBED A TREE TO SEE JESUS! (Seriously, read it! Luke 19!) Zacchaeus didn't want Jesus to do anything, he just wanted to get a glimpse of the man EVERYONE was talking about. From that one action Zacchaeus drew the interest of Jesus. In the end Jesus asked to visit Zacchaeus' home to stay for a bit, while others mocked Jesus for visiting the house of the "sinner".
Diana said after reading this story her question to God was "OK, what am I supposed to take from that?" His reply was both simple and life changing....."BE THE TREE". Let me tell you, that simple revelation BLEW MY MIND TO PIECES! I tweeted it, call my parents, friends, and anyone else that would listen with it! BE THE TREE! All of a sudden the following scripture became so clear to me: "And I, if I (Jesus) be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." (John 12:32). God simply asks us to live a life that lifts him up, not just in word, but in action. Are your day to day actions ones that are lifting Jesus into plain view? Are you serving Him in a matter that makes someone want to climb a tree to get a glimpse of what you know? If you would take this simple action and be the tree that acts as a bridge to Christ how many people around you would come to know Him as their savior, confidant, provider, and friend? Take a minute to think: Have you been a tree? That fixed object that people can use as a bridge to Christ? If so, how?
Take a minute to leave a comment below. Who knows, your comment may be the bridge moment someone needs to become a tree for another person. I know Diana was the tree for me, so I feel compelled to be that for others daily....just BE THE TREE (planted by the water)!
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