Versaday

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:10

This man Zacchaeus was a publican, that is, a tax collector for the Romans, and was looked down on by Jewish society as a great sinner; so when Jesus went to his house as a guest, many grumbled and “murmured, saying, that he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.” But the fact that he was a sinner was precisely the reason Jesus spent time with him. He came “to seek and to save that which was lost.” That is why He left heaven and came into this world of suffering and sorrow. He said in Luke 5:31,32. “They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” This actually includes everyone because Romans 3:10 tells us, “There is none righteous, no, not one. He is searching, He is seeking, He is knocking on the door. What is your response?

Commentary by Francis L. Harris

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

God has ordained that his work be carried on by the tithes and offerings of his people. The tithe (10% of your income) and whatever you decide on beyond that to support the Lord’s work, give cheerfully and not grudgingly, for God loves a generous and cheerful giver, but is displeased with the miserly and stingy. Jesus said, “Freely ye have received, freely give.” Mark 10:8. It is a blessing and a joy to work for the Lord, and to give to His work, and happy indeed are they who experience this for themselves. “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.”

Commentary by Francis L. Harris

Behold, I have refined the, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. Isaiah 48:10

It will be seen in eternity that the things we went through on earth were for our good and for our instruction. God loves you, and he knows what you are going through. He is refining you in the furnace of affliction. God works his sovereign will and we are told in Lamentations 3:33, “He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.” “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” Hebrews 12:7. This chastening and correction is for our betterment and we must not think that we add anything to what Jesus did on the cross. “By HIS stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; and the LORD hath laid on HIM the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:5,6.

Commentary by Francis L. Harris

It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. Psalms 119:71

Have you ever said, “It was good for me to be afflicted; good to be sick, lose money, or suffer.”? Why would King David say such a thing? The last part of the verse tells us; “that I might learn thy statutes.” Sometimes the rod is necessary. Sometimes we need a set-back in order to get our attention; and if it causes us to “learn God’s statutes,” and to get back into fellowship with God, then the affliction has served its’ purpose and we can say with David, “It was good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” God is not a permissive and indulgent father. “And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.” Ezekiel 20:37

Commentary by Francis L. Harris

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

The word “charity” in the Greek is agape, meaning simply….love; love one another. Those of us who are born again are brothers and sisters in Christ, and experience the same Lord, the same faith, and the same baptism. Being linked together as we are with the ties of our relationship to the Lord, it is natural that we should love one another. This love is a definite sign that we are saved, and the lack of it is a sign that we are still lost and yet in our sins. “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” 1 John 3:14. This is the “acid test”. If you do not love active Christians who serve Christ, or find them annoying, this is symptomatic of an unregenerate heart. True love overlooks or covers the trespasses of others.

Commentary by Francis L. Harris

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. Ephesians 4:1

What is the “vocation to which we are called”? 1 Corinthians 1:9 says that “you were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord”. Our verse for today tells us to walk worthy of that calling, which means to live in such a way as to adorn the doctrine of Christ by living a pure and holy life, following that which is good, honest and true, and not running with rioters, fornicators, liars, and sinners of all sorts. “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light , as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:5-7.

Commentary by Francis L. Harris

For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! Corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids. Zechariah 9:17

Our hearts are moved as we think of the goodness of God in the abundance and overflow of material blessings; family, houses, land, freedom, abundance of food of all kinds. How great is His goodness toward us! But these are only material, temporal blessings. Consider his goodness toward us when we were lost and dying in our sins, and on the way to an eternity of penal suffering and darkness. He sent his Son, his beloved Son, to be our substitute on the cross and to die in our place that we might be washed in his blood, pardoned for our sins, and enjoy sweet, joyous, beautiful fellowship with Him, for which we were created, and which we will experience throughout eternity. Oh the goodness of our God! Oh the joy and blessings that he has prepared us! “How great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty!” Amen.

Commentary by Francis L. Harris

And let the beauty of the LORD  our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it. Psalms 90:17

There can be no greater blessing than to have the glory and favor of God in your life so that He is manifest to you. The Psalmist said, “In thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalms 16:11. And if He has manifested his glory and salvation to you, He will be manifest to others through you, as their lives touch your life. Jesus said, “A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” Matthew 5:14, and, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16.

Commentary by Francis L. Harris

Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens. Lamentations 3:41

Upraised hands during prayer is a gesture of earnestness. If our posture is correct, let us see that our thoughts and emotions correspond to our outward actions. Let us lift up our hearts as well as lifting up our hands. What a blessing to know that our Father is in heaven and he hears and answers our prayers! Then by all means let us lift up our hands toward heaven and call on Him, but let us be careful that along with lifting up our voice and our hands, we are lifting up our hearts.

Commentary by Francis L. Harris

But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

All that we can do is judge a man by his outward appearance. If he looks clean, strong, intelligent, etc. we are impressed. But God is not limited to the appearance of things. His vision penetrates to the reality of things; to the heart itself. There are deceivers who can “turn on the charm” and fool nearly  everyone. But the Bible says that there is not a thought in our head that He is not completely aware of. Matthew Henry says, “We can tell how men look, but God can tell what they are.” In view of this, let us be more concerned with what we truly are, than what others think we are. Let us be true followers of the Lamb of God, being more concerned with what God knows than with what men think.

Commentary by Francis L. Harris