Day 231 - How to Get Clarity
📖Daily Reading
Luke 19
Join me on my morning walk as we rise and shine together by walking through the Bible daily and learn a practical applicable coaching nugget from the ultimate life coach - our creator (whatever that means to you). No judgement zone here, all are welcome, we are all on a spiritual journey because we are after all spiritual beings having a human experience.
📝 Reflection
Luke 19: 1-4
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 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 because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
Today I am going to focus and reflect on verses 1-10 of Luke 19 a story about Zacchaeus the Tax Collector. This story includes several very specific details that are unusual, we are given names, statuses, stature and a type of tree. When you see details like this, don’t gloss over them, they are important and will bring clarity to the story. This is a good time to utilize your research skills and resources.
What is special about the sycamore-fig tree? It is tall, has a wide canopy, branches that grow fairly low to the ground, resilient, regenerating, adapts to its circumstances, large leaves, and it bears fruit four times per year. These are all significant facts to keep in mind as we read the whole story. Significant facts to keep in mind about Zacchaeus he is high in status in the community as chief tax collector, very wealthy, short in stature, and willing to put ego aside to get what he wants.
When Zacchaeus knew that Jesus was coming through town he wanted to see him, he tries on his own as part of the crowd but he is too short so he find this sycamore-fig tree and climbs it. He wants to clearly see Jesus, not just through the crowd, he found a way even if it brought him ridicule or extra attention. Well it gets the attention of Jesus. When Jesus gets to the tree he calls Zacchaeus by name and tells him to come down because he wants to go to his house. Zacchaeus gladly complies. Later at his house, Zacchaeus says to Jesus, I will give half of my money to the poor and if I have cheated anyone on collecting taxes I will give them four times as much in return. 🤯Do you now see the significance of knowing the detail about the sycamore-fig tree that it bears fruit four times a year? Pretty cool!
Zacchaeus demonstrates clarity on what is required of him to enter the kingdom of God and eternal life that our previous examples in Chapter 16 & 18 of the other rich men that did not get. Also, similar also to a story in chapter 18 we have an example of another tax collector who does get it. They know they are sinners and are repenting, meaning they have the will to change and turn and go in a new direction. Abraham is also mentioned again at the end of the story, which is reminiscent of the story of the rich man and Lazarus from chapter 16.
Jesus says in vs. 9-10 “Today salvation has come to his house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” Zacchaeus’s willingness to go to great lengths, humbling himself to seek clarity with Jesus he restored his true inheritance as a son of Abraham. He was lost and was found, he sought and he was found. Not only does he benefit from this, but his whole house benefits. This is really good news! Clarity is worth the effort, in the seeking you will find and be found. He becomes like the sycamore-fig himself.
A few additional facts that are really cool about the sycamore-fig; the bark breaks as new layers are formed within and the outermost layer is pushed out, they grow near rivers and water, extensive root system, roots stay mostly at first six feet of soil but can adapt they will grow deeper if it becomes dry, also if their roots become covered with sand then the leaves will grow into the ground and become roots, considered a tree of life can host many animals, provides shade, grows very tall with a very wide canopy. The sycamore’s name in Hebrew is ‘shkima’ which means to restore, regenerate and re-establish. The flowers they produce are inside the fruit. A unique ecosystem unto itself, it relies on the fig wasp to pollinate it. It's leaves fertilize the ground, provides homes and food for many animals, provides shade, stabilizes the soil and helps with erosion control. Pretty cool rabbit 🐇 trail to go down today. God is so awesome!
✍🏼Daily Journal Prompt
How does this story resonate and the research of the details? Are you struggling to find clarity about something in your life right now? How can you use this to help you?
📖Tomorrows Reading
Luke 20
Coaching Opportunity
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