Don’t Give Up, God Isn’t Finished With You

Changing your life is hard; it is so hard that many never even try!

           

That is a sad truth, isn’t it? We all know someone who needs to make changes in their life to keep their job, family, or health – yet, it is so complex they often give up and lose some of the essential things in their lives!    

          

 In the Bible, there is a story of a man who wanted to change his life but couldn’t do it. He had made a fortune doing something that drove everyone he loved away from him: he was a tax collector for the Roman government! 

 

He wanted to change – he was lonely and rejected by all who knew him, but he just couldn’t bring himself to give up his fortune and regain his life. It was too hard!

           

And then, one day, Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was coming to his part of town. He was a very short man, so he climbed into a tree so that he might see Jesus when he walked by. Amazingly, Jesus saw him in the tree and called him down – “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” The hated tax collector was thrilled! He climbed down the tree and led Jesus to his house. He promised Jesus that he would give half of his fortune to the poor, and if he had defrauded anyone in his tax collections, he would repay them four times as much as he took! After talking with Jesus all afternoon, his life was transformed.  

          

 Zacchaeus had experienced a change of heart. When the hardened tax collector gave his heart to Jesus, God began to work to change his heart, soul, and actions. 

 

God cleansed him of his sin, enabled him to change his behavior, and began the long and arduous process of rebuilding his life. This time, though, it was going to work. God was with him!

           

Zacchaeus’s story has been repeated many times over the centuries – people who have tried and failed to change receive Christ into their hearts and finally begin to rebuild their lives. This is what God does when people turn to Him!

           

You may have something in your life that needs to change – it is a behavior or ‘way of life’ dragging you down; maybe it is keeping you from those you love. Perhaps you have tried to change and failed. Zacchaeus’s story teaches us that it is never too late to turn to God and allow Him to help you change. Turn to him in faith, and allow Him to come in and begin the transformation you need and want.

 

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Thank you for watching. We will see you next week.