Building Blocks of Gratitude: Greater Vision

What is your vision today?  You may have 20/20 eyesight, but are you truly seeing what is important?  All of us struggle to have a clarity of vision because we are confused by all of the competing visions of reality.  This is especially true for gratitude.  Our thankfulness depends on how we see the world, our lives, and God’s goodness.  In our series Building Blocks of Gratitude the sermon is Greater Vision.  If we are going to build thankfulness in our lives it will depend upon how we see reality.  Are our lives framed by goodness and love, or by necessity and struggle?  Do we find a sense of contentment or a sense of compulsiveness as we experience the world?  The difference between one thing or other may be found, not in our circumstances, but in the fullness of our outlook!  This week, we turn to a famous Bible story, in Luke 19:1-10, the story of the “wee little man,” Zacchaeus.  He had great wealth because he was the chief tax collector for the Roman Empire, but he had a poverty of spirit that was devouring soul.  As Jesus enters Jericho, Zacchaeus has a deep desire to see him.  Zacchaeus’s desire and his effort to achieve it leads to an encounter that will transform his barren soul to a cup that is overflowing!  Luke shares the transformation of Zacchaeus to help us realize that everything that glitters is not gold, and genuine wealth is not found in our financial strength.  Amid all the visions in life, Jesus invites to us to find the pearl of great price that is worth more that we could ever imagine!  As you read this familiar story, it is our prayer that you will hear the voice of Jesus telling you to lift your eyes and see the light of grace shing in your life! Luke 19:1-10:  Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (NIV)