Recently, a pastor pointed me to the story of Zaccheus when I was thinking about access to Jesus. You remember that Jesus was passing through the town, walking down the street, and many people were gathered. So many people, in fact, that Zaccheus could not see Jesus. So he climbed up in the sycamore tree to get a glimpse of the one passing by. And we know that when Jesus saw him, he called out to Zaccheus about having dinner, and a relationship began! This pastor is preparing to launch a new church, The Grove UMC, in Leland, based on and named – in part – on this story. For people to know Jesus, for people to become acquainted with the source of such a love that Jesus offers, people need access to Jesus! The sycamore allowed Zaccheus to see.
As I worshipped with two congregations this Sunday, I wondered: how are we anything like a sycamore tree that offers access to Jesus? How am I resourcing churches? How are churches offering their resources and building relationships that lead seekers to Christ? At each of these services, there was a new member joining or a baptism, and the congregation responded: “We rejoice to recognize and welcome you as a member of Christ’s holy church… With you, we renew our vows to uphold you by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness. With God’s help, we will so order our lives after the example of Christ that, surrounded by steadfast love, you may be established in the faith and confirmed and strengthened in the way that leads to life eternal.” How are we living as disciples so that we may be a part of establishing others in the faith?
Prayers: When do you pray? Jesus often went away to pray, and he prayed in public, before meals, around healings, and taught others to pray. When we pray for others, when we offer to pray for meals, we give others access to the language of speaking with God. There is no one right way, but speaking to God and listening for God’s voice feeds a relationship with God. We have a simple way to meet God and to encourage others, by example, to meet up with God as well.
Presence: When we show up in faith, we model faith for others. As a church, we offer places to be present, and as people, our showing up is important! God is with us when two or more are gathered. Jesus constantly showed up, connected, inviting people to meals!
Gifts: Our giving is a discipline, an offering of our first fruits. Making it simple to give our tithes and offerings, to give as a response to God’s word. Knowing when, how, and where people choose to give, let’s make it easy to offer our gifts to God and the Church.
Service: When we offer ways to share the talents God has given us, we provide a space to experience God. We get to be the hands and feet, and the heart, of God. We get to offer study, fellowship, food, and connection. We come to serve in a Christ-like model, in mission and much-needed service.
Witness: We have many ways to share who God is and how knowing God makes a difference in our lives: conversations, building relationships, spending time supporting members of our community, etc. Jesus offered a witness when he loved the least and lost, when he told stories of welcoming home the lost, and loving those who were rejected. We witness in the way we live our lives and share our stories! Thanks be to God.
I pray we will consider the story of Zaccheus and our commitment to ordering ourselves after Christ’s example! May our lives reflect and give access to Christ!
photo credit: Tara Lain