Posted November 17, 2024

What is the most common response when having a conversation with someone about accepting the invitation to let Jesus into their life? “I’m not ready....I’m still having too much fun.... I will, but not now....I’m still young, I’ve got time....I’m not ready.” This is another way of saying, “I don’t fit in”, the way they are.... The immutable truth is none of us is perfect. Most of us would agree with this, but we fail to encourage others who have a misguided belief about themselves when it comes to having a relationship with Jesus. In his sermon, “Who Told You That?”, Dr. Dharius Daniels talks about the passionate but not necessarily biblical teachings we grew up hearing in church. Lessons and sermons could be sprinkled with tradition, wrong believing and yes condemnation. It was easy to come away saying,  

“I may not be perfect but at least I don’t do ‘this’ and I don’t do ‘that’.....” Really? Too many times, we were guilty of holding others to different standards and expectations to be acceptable for church or even for salvation. The idea that someone must be perfect before they can come to Jesus overrides the pure and true message of the Good News of Jesus Christ: Come as you are. It interrupts the Great Commission to GO to all the world, making disciples of all men. No matter where they are in life, the gift of Grace through Faith is here, Now, because of the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is looking for you!

Zacchaeus was someone in the Bible who felt challenged about his self-worth, maybe even wondering if he qualified for Jesus’ message of forgiveness. Zacchaeus was a tax collector, someone who people probably tried to avoid and didn’t trust, not a popular occupation at the time. Even so, Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. When Jesus came to his city, Zacchaeus couldn’t see through the crowd, so he ran ahead and climbed a tree. Zacchaeus was not trying to be Seen, he was trying to SEE. But the scripture says when Jesus came by, He looked up at Zaccheus and called him out: “Get down from that tree! Today I must stay at your house!” (Luke 19:5,6). Jesus was looking for him! And Zacchaeus was overjoyed that Jesus “saw” him, chose him.

Guess what happened next? The MSG Bible says, “Everyone who saw this encounter had something to say. ‘What business does (Jesus) have getting cozy with this crook?’ (Luke 19:7)”. The people in that city were measuring Zacchaeus by “their” standards. Jesus, however, embraced Zacchaeus. His intention was to fellowship with him. Jesus let the people there witness this truth: “Where He (Jesus) is, so is salvation. Jesus came to look for and to save the lost (v.9-10)).” That’s how He feels about All of us.

The gift of Grace and salvation through faith is here because of the “finished work” of the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 4:4 says when people “work”, what they receive is not a “gift” but earnings. Our “works” have never been part of God’s plan of salvation. Human weakness boasts about “works”; that is not God’s way. The promise to Abraham, the father of all nations, and to us, Abraham’s seed, is through Faith. Jesus has made us acceptable in the sight of God, no matter how “unready” you may feel.

Our job as followers of Christ is to take this message to those who have been misled about who they are, “who’s” they are, and what is theirs. Following Christ, going to church does not mean living a life without joy. We should all be like Zaccheus. He went looking for Jesus. He put his doubts behind him and never expected that Jesus was looking for him. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t happen when you “get ready”. It happens when you make the decision to stop running away. Psalm 32:1-2 says, "How blessed is he whose wrongdoing is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! How blessed is a person whose guilt the Lord does not take into account." Everything is moving by the power of God, and we have access to the One who has All Power. 

Dr. Daniels sermon says God wants you to know, He is bigger than any label attached to you that does not line up with His destiny for your life. “God says, if I picked you, I know what I’m doing; if I called you I know what I’m doing; if I chose you, I know what I’m doing, if I assigned you, I know what I’m doing. I know I need you. And “I” Told You That!”