Dailies ~ Advent
December 19, 2019
The question was raised who we trust
when it comes to learning from teachers and preachers. One person answered that
they only trust those who are dead as they had a deeper knowledge while they
were alive. Others have said they trust this one’s teaching or that one. Still
another said they do not like topical fluffy styles of some teachers that do
not focus on the hard things in life but only the soft issues. Today’s reading
is what came to my mind in hearing these examples; Jesus flipped tables and
spoke to truth no matter who was listening. He did not worry about offending
the leaders or the people, in fact I think in some situations the offences of
those who were in the wrong was exactly what He was trying to accomplish.
Sometimes we must speak the truth regardless of if it is the nice thing to say.
I love it when I listen to a sermon and get notes from the Word of God that I
can use along with the topic or selection being taught and also find a side
word for myself that lines up with the same Bible verse selections. That is how
the Word of God works! It pulls the
truth from our hearts and minds and connects it to our lives.
Zacchaeus saw this! He called to Jesus
because he wanted to know more about the Truth, He wanted to see this Jesus he
had heard of. Then Jesus said for him to come down and take Him to his house!
I must ask myself; will I be brave enough
to flip a table?
Heavenly Father help us to stand up
for the truth and line up with Your Word in all we do, in all we speak, and in
all we share, In Jesus’ name, amen.
1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
2 And, behold, there was a man named
Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
3 And he sought to see Jesus who he
was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
4 And he ran before and climbed up
into a sycamore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
5 And when Jesus came to the place,
he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come
down; for today I must abide at thy house.
6 And he made haste, and came down,
and received him joyfully.
7 And when they saw it, they all
murmured, saying, that he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto
the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have
taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
9 And Jesus said unto him, this day
is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
10 For the Son of man is come to seek
and to save that which was lost.
11 And as they heard these things, he
added and spoke a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they
thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
12 He said therefore, A certain
nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to
return.
13 And he called his ten servants, and
delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
14 But his citizens hated him, and
sent a message after him, saying, we will not have this man to reign over us.
15 And it came to pass, that when he
was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to
be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much
every man had gained by trading.
16 Then came the first, saying, Lord,
thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
17 And he said unto him, Well, thou
good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou
authority over ten cities.
18 And the second came, saying, Lord,
thy pound hath gained five pounds.
19 And he said likewise to him, Be
thou also over five cities.
20 And another came, saying, Lord,
behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
21 For I feared thee, because thou art
an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that
thou didst not sow.
22 And he saith unto him, out of thine
own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an
austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my
money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with
usury?
24 And he said unto them that stood
by, take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he
hath ten pounds.)
26 For I say unto you, that unto everyone
which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall
be taken away from him.
27 But those mine enemies, which would
not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
28 And when he had thus spoken, he
went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.
29 And it came to pass, when he was
come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he
sent two of his disciples,
30 Saying, go ye into the village over
against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon
yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.
31 And if any man asks you, Why do ye
loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.
32 And they that were sent went their way
and found even as he had said unto them.
33 And as they were loosing the colt,
the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?
34 And they said, The Lord hath need
of him.
35 And they brought him to Jesus: and
they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.
36 And as he went, they spread their
clothes in the way.
37 And when he was come nigh, even now
at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples
began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that
they had seen;
38 Saying, blessed be the King that
cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
39 And some of the Pharisees from
among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
40 And he answered and said unto them,
I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately
cry out.
41 And when he was come near, he
beheld the city, and wept over it,
42 Saying, “If thou had known, even
thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now
they are hid from thine eyes.
43 For the days shall come upon thee,
that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and
keep thee in on every side,
44 And shall lay thee even with the
ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one
stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.”
45 And he went into the temple, and
began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought;
46 Saying unto them, “It is written, ‘My
house is the house of prayer’: but ye have made it a den of thieves.”
47 And he taught daily in the temple.
But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to
destroy him, 48 and could not find what they might
do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.
King James Version (KJV)