Keep the Way by Doing

Genesis 18.18-19 tells a story that's amazingly hopeful. It serves as the background of the story told in Luke 19 about Zacchaeus. And is the main reason Luke 19.9 makes sense to the people during Jesus' time. But not our time.

Ever since the garden, Yahweh had a plan to rule his world through his image bearers. The coming of the Messiah didn't put an end to that plan. Before, during, and since Jesus took on flesh and walked among creation, his Father has been gathering a family who are to join him in his mission of blessing to the world.

This ought to make you think of Abraham and the promises God made to him.

The death and resurrection of the Messiah continues to lead to a union whereby sinners are reborn as acquitted and empowered disciples of Jesus abled to serve on Yahweh's mission team.

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Since delving into church planting about two years ago, I've heard two terms used over and over: evangelism and mission. Depending on who you read or listen to, you can walk away with a host of definitions for them both. But a colleague of mine challenged me to let the scriptures dictate their meaning more than your favorite preacher or theologian.

That's when I ran into Zacchaeus. (not literally)

How on earth is this 'wee little man' given such loving and encouraging words by Jesus? I mean, he was a rich tax collector just like Matthew after all. Jesus invited himself over to Zack's house and apparently that led to him telling Jesus his future plans of restitution and the restoring of dignity and shalom for the oppressed. In other words, Zack told Jesus how he planned to be a blessing.

God chose Abraham to become a great and mighty nation of people so that all the nations shall be blessed through him. Cool, but how? Well, God also chose Abraham to command his children and his extended family to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice.

Then you read about Zacchaeus planning to do righteous and just things to those who have been the complete opposite of blessed. And due to his plan of action by way of faith, Jesus not only announced the salvation of this man because of his familial connection to Abraham.

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Jubilee Fellowship Church is about keeping the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice. We are committed to being the family that joins Yahweh in his mission of blessing to the world.

Selah.