Zacchaeus and the Sycamore Tree

Some of my friends use to climb out their upstairs window at night and lie on their backs on the roof and count the stars. The only way I would lie on my back and count stars would be from a quilt on the ground. I do remember one time climbing up on our garage when I was about ten years old and then wondering how I was going to get back down.

I'm not a fan of flying. It's not that I'm afraid of crashing but it's that I don't like heights. I also don't like flying because I'm a bit claustrophobic and being crunched in with a high seat back in front of me; a high seat back behind me and people crowded in on both sides gets to me. "If you sit by the window where you can see out, you won't get claustrophobic " a friend told me, " 'cause you can look out the window." Sure, I can......I can look out the window and see the ground miles below me from on high.

I'm reminded of the story of Zacchaeus. Remember how he climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus. When Jesus passed by, he saw Zacchaeus and told him to come down because he was going to go to his house that day. Zacchaeus was one of the most hated men in all of Jericho. He had become very rich because he cheated people by collecting more taxes than they owed and keeping it for himself. The people could not believe that Jesus would go to the home of a man like that! But, because Zacchaeus took Jesus to his home, Jesus was able to witness to Zacchaeus and Zacchaeus asked forgiveness for his sins. And, all because of a sycamore tree and a man who wasn't afraid of heights.

God planted that sycamore tree in the right place even before Zacchaeus needed it.

Has God planted something or someone in your life that would allow you to see Him?

"A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance." Proverbs 28:13 (TLB)