Stress Test Devotional April 28
April 28, 2024
LUKE 19:1-10| He entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”
Another obstacle to the fullest life is isolation. When we are isolated we have no one to pray for or share with. We have no one to help or be helped by, no sounding board, no mirror to reflect our character. Isolation is the worst punishment in prison!
Wise people measure their wealth by the quality and depth of their relationships. Jesus had an eye for people who were alone and a way of connecting them with his community.
Why was Zacchaeus isolated? How did he overcome it?
Do you know anyone who is isolated? Befriend them.
If you are isolated ask God to help you connect with a group of people at VPC.
