Climb out of that tree and accept freedom!

Climb out of that tree and accept freedom!

When we think of freedom, we often think about doing what we want without hindrance, our free country in the USA, the end of slavery, our rights...What would you like to be free from? Bills, taxes, homework, housework...we all have things we wish we could be free from...I would choose to never have to dust again!!!  However, our greatest need is to be free from is the debt of sin we cannot pay. The good news is, someone has paid that debt for us! True freedom comes from following Jesus. Only Jesus can deliver us from the bondage of sin. In John 19 we are taught of a tax collector named Zacchaeus. He was dishonest.  He was disliked. He over-collected to make himself rich.  He was chasing financial stability and fortune.  We often chase after things in this life too...money, fame, good grades, cool toys or fancy cars, friends, or followers, likes on social media - while all these may not be bad, the most important thing we should be chasing after is following Christ.  We should have a desire to follow Him, first.  Zacchaeus had a choice to make while he was sitting in the tree watching Jesus pass by. When Jesus called his name, he could respond and come down to a life more abundant, or he could just keep sitting there watching in the tree top, being a spectator.  Do we just want to watch Jesus from a distance or get down and jump into action? Jesus knew when He was in Jericho that day that He had an appointed time at that specific tree to meet Zacchaeus. He knew Zacchaeus was a sinful.  He knew Zacchaeus was a dishonest tax collector.  He purposed for that very tree to grow in that spot many years prior to Zacchaeus needing to climb it to see Him.  He knows our past.  He knows our present.  He knows our future, too. He knows our sins.  Has he placed a "tree" in our life for us to climb to see Him.  Are we sitting in the treetop watching Him pass us by?  Is Jesus standing at the base of your tree calling your name, asking for you to come down so He can come to your house today? 

We must choose to come down from our tree and follow Jesus. It’s our choice and no one can make it for us. Will we choose to follow Him daily and have an abundant life? As we read in John 19:1-10,  Zacchaeus climbed down, he invited Jesus in, he changed, he chose to follow Jesus. Will we do the same each day? Is He seeking you today?  Choose life more abundant!  

Go ahead and climb out of your tree today!

"For the son of man came to seek and save the lost" John 19:10

True freedom comes from following Jesus Christ!