✝ Daily Encouragement (8/7/24) "Wee Little Zachaeus"
Published: Wed, 08/07/24
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(Click refresh or reload for current message) Wednesday, August 7, 2024 
Ester
took this
photo last
week prompting
today's
consideration
of another
tree climber.
Look carefully
and you can
see another
child also in
the tree. The
six year old
is eating a
crab apple.
Most people
pass on crab
apples due to
their tart or
acidic base
but not this
young lad.
They're a
great apple
for baking!
"Wee Little Zachaeus" Message summary: Let's seek God today, no matter what overcomings it might require! Listen to our message on your audio player. "A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way" (Luke 19:2-4). "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). Growing
up in Belton,
Missouri in
the 60's we
had a great
climbing tree
at the side of
our house. My
friend Dave
and I spent
many hours
climbing that
tree, building
tree houses
and in making
fall leaf
forts.
Brooksyne
also liked to
climb trees
when she
visited her
grandparents
in Arkansas.
Her tree
climbing
memory
included her
sister and
some local
boys who liked
to climb.
Our
tree climbing
days are long
gone but
children still
like to climb
trees.
Do you have a
memorable tree
from your
childhood that
you recall
climbing?
Perhaps you
built a
tree-house or
had a tire
swing.
Today
we examine
Scripture's
foremost tree
climber whom
we've come to
identify as a
wee little man
named
Zacchaeus.
We like Zacchaeus' story, don't we! You may recall his story from Sunday School or VBS. Perhaps, as a child, you sang like we did, "Zacchaeus Was a Wee Little Man", motions and all. Maybe you still sing it with your children or grandchildren. As we wrote yesterday music is a great way to teach and reinforce truth. Ester recalls another song about Zacchaeus by the Donut Man, whom she enjoyed as a child. Part of the intrigue of Zacchaeus' story is that we can identify with him, young children especially, since (apart from liking to climb trees!) they often need others' assistance in reaching or seeing due to their still-growing height. Zacchaeus had heard many things about this man called Jesus and now he wanted to see just what He looked like, how He carried Himself, and the way He responded to those who spoke to Him! 
Being
a short man he
couldn't see
over the
multitude of
people. I'm
sure there
were many
large
gatherings
where he ended
up missing the
big event due
to his small
stature. When
he was young
he was likely
raised up on
his parent's
shoulders, but
as an adult
this was not
an option. So
Zacchaeus
devised a
clever plan
where he ran
ahead and
climbed up
into a
sycamore tree.
After
climbing he
waited until
Jesus passed
his way.
(It's always
intrigued me
that the Bible
specifies the
tree species
and to this
day Sycamore
trees are
great climbing
trees.)In our day it wouldn't seem too dignified to look up and spot a grown man perched in a tree, but the story indicates that he had a spiritual interest and that's a very worthwhile motivation. He was a rich tax collector but the Bible story gives evidence that his position and wealth had not met his innermost needs. I'm glad that He didn't allow his pride or stature to keep him from seeking out Jesus. I wonder if he actually cared about what others thought of his tree climbing expedition. But if he thought he was going to remain a mere onlooker he was mistaken! "When Jesus reached the spot, He looked up and said to him, 'Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today'" (Luke 19:5). It brings a smile to my face mentally picturing Zacchaeus' scampering descent to the ground after Jesus spoke directly to him. I don't think that's what Zacchaeus was expecting and so often the Lord meets and calls those who are seeking Him in ways we do not expect. And He's still doing that today, for He continues to "reward those who earnestly seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). Let's continue seek Him today, no matter what overcomings it might require!
Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Zachaeus Was A Wee Little Man" Watch on YouTube Many of you can sing this from a childhood memory! Can You Eat Crab Apples? Just don't eat the seeds or core! I also may be confusing crab apples with hedge apples (osage orange) which grew between the in the hedge rows between farm fields where I grew up in Missouri. What are hedge apples used for? I also learned that there is a sport called recreational tree climbing and of course others do so for a living. 
Lancaster
County's 'Old
Sycamore'
is estimated
to be some 350
years old!
It's probably
forbidden but
this looks
like an easy
tree to climb!
(Click on photo to enlarge)  A tree swing on a giant Sycamore tree (Zacchaeus would have had a hard time climbing up this tree!). Our friend Jason is swinging Prentice, his 3 year old son (at the time) who kept hollering, "Higher, Higher!"  This interesting Sycamore tree is on an Amish farm on Greider Road several miles from our home. Wouldn't this be a nice long seat for a family photo with lots of kids! Actually at one time we saw 8 of the children sitting on the long branch but alas, no photo. 
Yesterday
afternoon our
friends Nick
and Drema came
over for a
visit. Nick
has had an
onslaught of
health issues
recently so
hopefully
Rosie provided
some pet
therapy.
Drema, who was
raised in
southern West
Virginia
blessed us
with a dish of
ham, green
beans and
potatoes along
with cornbread
and some poppy
seed cake -
very tasty!
The "dazzling"
socks but sure
made our photo
more
colorful!
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