Man of StrengthSample

BE THE MAN WHO WELCOMES FORGIVENESS

Luke 19 shares the story of a man who was short on strength. He’d taken on a job that found him collecting taxes from his friends and neighbors. In his weakness, he decided to start overcalculating their tax.....and pocketing the difference. This bad idea, of course, didn’t go unnoticed. Soon, Zacchaeus also became short on friends. One day, Jesus came to town. But when the local buzz pinpointed the street where He’d walk, nobody bothered to save Zacchaeus a space. As a result, the tax collector decided to climb a tree. There, he’d have one of the best views in town! When Jesus was about to pass by, He stopped under the tree, looked up, and invited Himself to dinner. It was at that meal that Jesus confronted Zacchaeus’ weak actions. Somehow, instead of fearfully retreating, this man gained strength from Jesus’ words. He changed his thinking and then his actions. He stopped collecting extra tax and provided a refund to everyone he’d taken advantage of. This unique story is a powerful example of what happens when a man comes to grips with a hard truth, abandons fear, and seeks God’s strength. Don’t fear being called out by God. Instead, accept His assessment of your weakness and embrace the strength He offers. Don’t get mad because you were caught in sin—rejoice because Forgiveness came to town and noticed you.

Why does correction often lead to defensiveness? How can God’s assessment of your actions lead to greater inner strength?