GodReflection: God The Nurturer

So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” (Luke19:4).

Chambers of Commerce, Magazine articles and television cooking shows brag of regional cuisine specialties. I live in Barbeque country. To barbeque is an artform. Teams of junkies with cookers gather as groupies to compete with each other for Blue Ribbons and bragging rights.

I missed the cook gene. I’m an eater not a preparer.

Restaurateurs quickly recognized a year-around opportunity. Within a multimillion populated metroplex there are gazillions of people ready to call in take-out orders.

When in need of ‘take out’ I know exactly where to go to bring ‘take out’ to our table. I go for Barbeque.

In less than two hundred words packed into ten short verses, only Luke records the story of Zacchaeus. His account calls for imagination to fill in between the lines of scant information.

Zacchaeus, a wealthy chief tax collector heard Jesus was walking in his direction. The short man couldn’t contain himself. He had to see this Jesus fellow but the large crowd elbowed him out and made it impossible for him to see over.

With the quick wit of a man who knew how to collect taxes he devised a plan—he would climb a tree to see over the crowd.

Jesus—whom he had never met—came direct to his perch, looked up and called him by name. Not only that, he announced his plan to go home with him as his guest.

The religious folks who presumed Jesus would have been honored to dine with them, saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner (Luke 19:7).

Jesus took to the house of his host what Zacchaeus could not offer. The ‘take out’ Jesus selected was Divine Cuisine—he brought salvation.

Luke ends the story with a climactic punch:

Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19: 9-10).

I am to see myself in every story in the four Gospels. Jesus always walks in my direction. On each occasion Jesus announces his eagerness to come home with me. He is the guests who always brings a gift. He comes with heaven’s best ‘take out’ to grace my table.

He waits to see if I like the short man of Luke 19, want to see Jesus since he is coming my way and he waits to see if I like Zacchaeus will welcome him gladly.

The best barbeque ‘take out’ only last for a meal and perhaps a few leftovers for another time or two. Jesus brings ‘take out’ to provide nurture throughout my earth walk and on into eternity.

Have you ever considered accepting his offer as a permanent guest at your table upon whom you can be depend to provide Divine cuisine?

Stay tuned.

Dr. Gary J. Sorrells

A GodReflection: God Brings ‘Take Out’ to my Table

Gary@Godreflection.org

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