Rising Above

"Zacchaeus was a wee little man

And a wee little man was he

He climbed up in a sycamore tree

For the Lord he wanted to see"

If you ever attended a children's Sunday school class, or a vacation Bible school, or attended a church-based pre-K program - you've probably heard the story of Zacchaeus.  

The short tax collector wanted very much to see Jesus, but was having trouble seeing over the crowd.  So, he went and found himself a Sycamore tree to climb overlooking the road where he knew Jesus would be passing.  Once he achieved that higher vantage point, he was able to clearly see Jesus.  That's when Jesus called to him.  (Luke 19: 1 - 10)

Just like Zacchaeus, sometimes we have to rise above the crowd if we want to see Jesus. 

We have to rise above the opinions and expectations of others. We have to rise above our own egos.  We have to rise above the selfishness, greed and pettiness of society.  We have to rise above what others tell us is "right" and look to what the Word says.  Even if that means sometimes having to rise above the rules, opinions and attitudes of our fellow Christians.  

We have to rise above it all and keep our eyes on the Lord. So that we can hear Him say “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”