Coming Up Short!

Luke 19:3

He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd.

There are times in life when it seems that we keep coming up short. We try our best to reach expectations set by ourselves and others only to fail to reach our objectives for various reasons. In spite of our limitations, there is a way to get around our shortness. Whether it is being short physically, financially, emotionally, or spiritually, there is a way to come up short that actually works out for our good.

Zacchaeus was a little person who wanted to see Jesus as he was passing through his neighborhood. Zacchaeus was wealthy but short. Normally when you think of people coming up short you think of somebody poor but Zach was rich. He had tall money but he was short on admiration and spiritual consecration.

He wanted to see Jesus but could not because the crowd blocked his view due to the fact that he was short. So he ran ahead of the crowd and climbed a sycamore fig tree. He came up short! He didn’t let his disability stop him from seeing Jesus. If we are going to come up in spite of our shortness, we have to do the same things that Zach did.

He ran ahead of the crowd. Verse 4 sometimes we have to pull away from the people blocking our view. If you can’t move the crowd then move away from the crowd.

1. He climbed up verse 4. You have to get higher than the people who are blocking you from Jesus. Always take the higher road in the way you respond to any given situation. That’s why it’s important to get a Higher Education and believe in a Higher power so that you can always take the High Road.

2. Go out on a limb. Zach climbed a Sycamore tree which meant he had to go out on a limb until Jesus got there. We must be willing to take a risk when it comes to pursuing Jesus. The greatest risk in life is to risk nothing.

3. He waited for Jesus to call him down. Verse 5 when you seek Jesus he will find you. When you hunger and thirst for righteousness you will be satisfied. Don’t move from where you are until Jesus calls you down.

4. Take Jesus to your house. Verse 6. Zach did something radical; he took Jesus to his house even though he had a bad reputation as a swindling tax collector. At some point we have to bring Jesus home in spite of lifestyles that are in conflict with who he is. Jesus isn’t offended or embarrassed to be with you and he’s willing to help you fix where you are coming up short.

5. Give back to the poor verse 8. When the crowd tried to put Zach on blast for his reputation, he said he would give half his possessions to the poor. When our hearts have been touched by Jesus we should give back to the poor. Use your success to bless others.

6. Restore broken relationships verse 8. Zach told Jesus if he had stolen from anybody he would pay back four times the amount. When we have broken relationships we should try to make amends for where we have come up short. Give back what you owe as best you can.

Dear God,

Thank you for seeing me when I came up short. You called me out and came to my house in spite of my mess. Thank you for restoring my dignity and my relationships. Most of all thank you for Salvation. Now I’m coming up but not short!

In Jesus Name,
Amen