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Thanks for reading. I have never considered myself a writer (I'm a speaker who has to write). But you've been a constant source of encouragement and affirmation to me since beginning this daily discipline.

Spending Time With Jesus

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. -Luke 19: 5-6 (NIV)

Last November, my family went to Disney World with some dear friends. One of the things we were most looking forward to seeing was the Main Street Electrical Parade. Our son Nicolas loves anything that glows, spins, and glides and the parade promised floats that would do all of those things.

On the night we decided to watch the parade, we were certain that we'd allotted enough time to find a place to view the parade. Disney has handicap-accessible seating for people in wheelchairs so we made our way to those designated areas only to discover that they were already full. We kept racing ahead to the next observation point only to learn that those places were also full. Finally we found a place where, though not on the front row, Nicolas could perhaps see the very tops of the floats as they passed by us. Eventually someone invited Nicolas to join the front row of spectators but the person right next to Nicolas often blocked his view while trying to call out to the parade participants and trying to get the best angle to record the parade with her video camera.

For me, the best moment of the Main Street Electrical Parade was when the parade participants would come over and greet Nicolas, hardly acknowledging (if at all) the woman who was often blocking Nicolas' view. She was obviously not happy that Nicolas was getting the attention that she desired. After all, she was the one videoing it, right?

I couldn't help but recall that night at Disney as I read the suggested scripture reading for today. Like my son Nicolas, Zacchaeus was unable to see over the crowd. Like Nicolas, Zacchaeus ran (wheeled) ahead in search of an observation point. Like Nicolas, Zacchaeus didn't call out to those walking by but was instead singled out and approached by the One walking by him. Like the woman blocking Nicolas' view of the parade, the people around Zacchaeus didn't like the fact that he was getting the special attention of Jesus...attention that they desired.

Upon meeting Jesus, Zacchaeus clearly makes the case that either he already gives half of everything he makes to the poor or will do so from this point forward. If he has wronged anyone, Zacchaeus vows to go far beyond the biblical mandate for restitution because he wants to make things right. The story concludes with Jesus restoring Zacchaeus' standing in the community and assuring him that salvation has come to his house.

Have you been judged by the crowd to not be worthy? Or have you been like the crowd and passed judgment on someone else? Have you been searching for Jesus but have been unable to see him? The good news is that Jesus is seeking you too and he wants to come into your home and life.

May God grant you the grace to see Christ, hear his invitation to spend time together, and experience his salvation and restoration today.


Tomorrow's Reading: Luke 20

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."

No Regrets

He answered, "Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers.  Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment." -Luke 16:27-28 (NIV)

In today's suggested scripture reading, Jesus is addressing a group of Pharisees who are lovers of money and he tells them a parable about two men. One of them is wealthy as evidenced by the purple robes and the abundant tables of food. The other man is poor, covered with sores, and sits by the gate of the rich man longing for scraps of food from the rich man's table.

Both men die. The rich man is buried and descends to Hades, defined most simply as the place where God is not. The poor man, Lazarus, is carried away by angels and takes his place beside Abraham.

The rich man is somehow able to see Lazarus alongside Abraham while he himself is in endless torment. The rich man asks Abraham for relief but there is none coming. He is told that the chasm exists because he had good things on earth while Lazarus did not. Some suggest that the chasm exists because the rich man refused to share his riches with poor Lazarus who begged outside his gate.

I want to live a life of "no regrets." I want to live in such a way that I lessen the likelihood of approaching death having wished that I had done something I did not. I want to so live that I approach death regretting that there were lots of things that I should not have done.

May God grant you the grace to assess what is really important today and to be a good steward of your time, talents, and treasures. May you see this day as a gift and may you live with no regrets.



Tomorrow's Reading:  Luke 17
Sunday's Reading: Luke 18
I'll be back on Monday with a devotional from Luke 19

If you're new to the Good Morning God devotionals, I try to write and share them each Monday-Friday. Please feel free to forward the devotionals to family, friends, and co-workers. I notice an increase in the number of new subscribers when readers like you share them on Facebook or re-tweet them on Twitter. It's my prayer that these devotionals might help countless people say, "Good Morning God."