 For the benefit of the GMBA Campout attendees who heard Brother Jerry present this message Sunday night, here is the full blog that the message was based on.
When you want to feel close to the Lord, what do you do? Perhaps one or more of these things:
What do all of these activities have in common?
What types of excuses might we use? We’ve probably heard them (and maybe used them) all from time to time: Too busy, too tired, too much effort, planning to do it more in the future, etc.
But, of course, what it really comes down to is desire. The more that we want to be close to the Lord, the more we will do our best to make it happen, regardless of the effort involved.
Jesus and His followers are passing through Jericho on their way to Jerusalem. The chief tax collector of Jericho, a man named Zacchaeus, becomes aware of this procession and has a desire to see this man Jesus. However, Zacchaeus has a problem. There is already a crowd lining the road, so he won’t be able to position himself to see Jesus. Perhaps if he was a tall man, he could see over the crowd, but he is, in fact, height-challenged (he’s short).
Does Zacchaeus give up? He certainly has a valid excuse. No, he really wants to see Jesus, so he finds a sycamore tree along the road and climbs up in the tree so he will be able to see Jesus as He passes by. Perhaps he’s hoping that nobody notices him—after all, it would be embarrassing for this important man to be seen sitting up in a tree.
But alas, Jesus calls him out—He calls him by name and tells him to come down from the tree because He’s coming to his house! Zacchaeus really gets the opportunity to be close to the Lord! While Jesus is at his house, Zacchaeus is completely converted. He becomes a follower of Christ and is immediately a changed man. He pledges half of his wealth to the poor and, for anyone he has cheated in the collection of taxes, he will repay them four times the amount that they were cheated. Jesus happily announces, “This day is salvation come to this house” (Luke 19:9).
Zacchaeus was willing to climb a tree to be close to Jesus. How much of an effort are you willing to make to be close to Him?
Would you, could you climb a tree?
Would you read Church History?
Would you partake of bread and wine?
Would you sing the Songs of Zion? Would you, could you travel abroad? Would you, could you say a prayer? Would you sit in an uncomfortable chair?
Would you gather in a large room?
Would you at least watch on Zoom?
Would you eat green eggs and ham?
To be close to the Great I Am?
This article has undergone ministry review and approval.
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More Than Just a Name
We are taking a short break from the Life of Jesus series. For the next few weeks, please enjoy these articles from the past. 3 Nephi 27 is a chapter that’s remembered because it’s the one where Jesus tells His disciples what to name the church....
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