Scripture: Luke 19:1-9
Journal: How has Jesus come to seek and save you? How has that taken shape in your life? How has Jesus come to seek and save all
things, and to restore them back into the fearful and wonderful creations they
were intended to be? How do you see that
taking shape around you? How can you
contribute to that? What things do you still
long to see made new?
Reflection:
I don’t know about you, but I have a tendency,
at times, to reduce the work of Jesus to “he took away my punishment.” Which is great, and certainly true, but falls
far short of the depth and the beauty of what really happened at the cross. For Jesus didn’t just come to take
away my punishment—he didn’t just come to save those who
were lost—but he also came to restore and redeem all things; to seek and save what
was lost at the fall. All of the people
and the things and the relationships that were broken and marred and distorted
and crippled and disfigured by the entry of sin into the world, will one day be
renewed and restored to their creation intent by the One who dreamt them into
being. In other words, Jesus came to reverse
the effects of the fall.
The salvation that
came to the house of Zacchaeus that day wasn’t merely about punishment
being taken away, but about things—and people—becoming who and what they were
intended to be. The restoration of all
that was taken away by the fall.
Relationships were made right once again. Healing and wholeness had re-entered the
picture—financially, socially, and spiritually.
All a hint and a foretaste of life as it was intended to be. Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Closing
Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for all you
accomplished through the cross, and all that still will be accomplished
in our lives and in our world, until we are with you again in Paradise. O heavenly day! Amen.
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