Here is our upcoming scripture followed by prayer.
Scripture Luke 19:1-10, NLT, lay reader Karen Jones
Jesus and Zacchaeus
19 Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town.
2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich.
3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd.
4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.
5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”
6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.
7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.
8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”
9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham.
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
Dear Jesus,
Maybe we are like Zacchaeus in that we are trying to get to the right place to connect with You. Maybe we are hiding from You. Or maybe we have been hiding from THE problems of the world or we have been hiding from OUR problems in the world.
Whatever the case, please make Your way to us. Call to us by name. Invite Yourself to a place at our table so that we can sit with You and feel the nourishment of our souls from Your company and Your companionship.
Seek and save us because, like Zacchaeus, the truth is obvious: we are either lost, wrongful, disconnected, lost, longing, lonely, or we’ve been climbing the wrong tree.
Gather us to worship with You Sunday. Draw us to You. Help us hear You and be with You in Your sanctuary, our worship home.
In the company of the Holy Spirit we pray,
Amen.