Love Story: Are You Up A Tree?

Today we were privileged to have Dr. Patrick Pang teaching at CrossWalk. I thoroughly enjoyed his teaching, and was impressed with his insights into a great story in the life and ministry of Jesus (Luke 19:1-10). Here’s what I took home…

When Jesus visited Jericho, there was a Chief Tax Collector who desperately wanted to see the famous miracle-working rabbi. But he couldn’t see him when the crowds grew because he was vertically challenged. Not wanting to miss out, Zach got creative – he perched himself in a tree above the heads of everybody else.

Jesus, who may very well have been given a heads up about Zach from one of his tax-collector-turned-follower disciples, saw him, called him out of the tree, and invited himself over to Zach (which would have been received as a great honor).

Nobody liked tax collectors back then. Not much has changed there, I guess! So, then as now, people began to talk trash about Jesus’ poor choice of company. Before Jesus responded, Zach blurted out that he was so taken with Jesus that he was going to cash in half of his estate and give it to the poor, and that he would provide a fourfold return to those he ripped off in collecting taxes.

In response, Jesus declared that salvation had come to Zach’s house, which fit his mission of seeking and saving those who were lost.

In your face, trash-talkers…

Dr. Pang noted that Martin Luther recognized that three conversion take place in a person’s life when they embrace Jesus. A conversion in our head, our heart, and our pocketbook. They usually don’t happen all at the same time, but they did for Zach.

Where are we in our conversion process? Have we allowed God to convert our pocketbook just as we have our hearts and minds?

Can you trust God as equally powerful to be faithful in your financial life as you have with your mindset and passions?

Will you follow in Zach’s footsteps and give everything over to Jesus’ leadership?

Dr. Pang ended with an inspiring challenge: will we allow the conversion of our pocketbooks to continue by choosing to give 1% more of our income than we are currently to God’s work at CrossWalk?

How will you respond?

This is simply a snapshot of the teaching. Give Patrick a listen online – you’ll be thoroughly entertained and challenged simultaneously.