BELOVED, EVERY ANSWER YOU NEED, WHETHER IT HAS TO DO WITH YOUR FINANCES, HEALTH, CAREER, OR FAMILY LIFE, IS FOUND IN KNOWING MORE ABOUT JESUS IN A PERSONAL AND INTIMATE WAY.

GOSPEL CORNER

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD

07/09/24

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”
Luke 19:5, NLT

THE SECRET TO A CHANGED LIFE
Zacchaeus was the despised chief tax collector in the region, known for cheating people and called a notorious sinner. Yet when Jesus could have spent time with any of the local religious leaders, He chose Zacchaeus, which they found disgusting. Religion says, “He’s too bad. He’s scum. Stay away.” Sometimes religion portrays an image of God where you can’t measure up, and it uses guilt and your feelings of unworthiness to try to get you to live right. But God says, “I gladly welcome Zacchaeus. What he has done does not cancel out My mercy.”

When Zacchaeus came to understand that God loved him unconditionally, even when he had made mistakes, he decided to change his ways and salvation came to him. Sometimes we think that if we tell people all they’re doing wrong and make them feel guilty, they’ll change. But condemnation doesn’t make them do better. It is when they hear about a God who shows mercy when they deserve judgment that they’ll change. The Scripture says, “It’s the goodness of God that leads to repentance.”

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that even though You know everything about me, You still invite Yourself to come to my house for dinner and bring the gift of salvation. Thank You that it’s not about my performance, about being good enough, about being worthy, but it’s about Your love. Welcome to my house. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

The Bible says in 2 Peter 1:2, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” In the original Greek, it actually says, “through the knowledge of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

So God’s unmerited favor and His shalom-peace (health, provision, and total well-being) are multiplied in your life through the knowledge of JESUS. The more you know Jesus, the more you will be able to tap into the ever-flowing supply of His favor, healing, and provision!

Beloved, every answer you need, whether it has to do with your finances, health, career, or family life, is found in knowing more about Jesus in a personal and intimate way.

I pray that every day, as you study the Scriptures or listen to Christ-centered sermons, the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see more of Jesus—His beauty, His love and grace toward you, and His finished work at Calvary!