Luke 19:1-7 -- On Spiritual Promptings

"And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
And, behold, there was a man named Zacchæus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchæus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner."
Luke 19:1-7


I love this story, because it shows how well Christ knows us. Elsewhere in the New Testament Christ has cause to rebuke some scribes and publicans, but here, he saw good. I love Zacchaeus climbing a tree so that he could see Christ, and Christ just knowing who he was, and that this man in the tree wasn't a crazy person, but a good person and the place that "all things working together for good" had provided for him to stay that day. It is sort of sad that the focus of the surrounding people is that Zaccheus is a sinner (which I'm guessing they just assume becuase he was a publican) rather than seeing the miracle that is happening here... another example of Christ just knowing things and people and what is best in situations without there being an external way for him to have arranged things.

The Spirit of the Lord knows all things, and God can assist us in our lives and help us insofar as we trust him to do so, and are willing to act on his promptings. Maybe we aren't at the level Christ was here, where we can just stop in the middle of a crowd, look up into a tree, and know that is where we are spending the day... but small miracles like this do happen all the time, and could happen more, if we could trust it, and have that faith to follow through. Today, let's practice listening, and start learning to act on spiritual promptings, and how to know they are from God, not Satan, and not just stray thoughts. That can be challenging, but as we begin, and just keep one thing in mind... to act on a feeling if it prompts us to do something good and helpful, then that will be a good direction that will allow God to help us learn more.