In Luke 19: 1 – 10 there is a record of a man called Zacchaeus, a wealthy, chief tax collector. He would have been a man of outstanding importance in the community, yet small in physical stature. The thronging crowd around the Saviour prevented Zacchaeus from seeing Him. A principle was demonstrated here. In his desperation Zacchaeus had to get past himself and die to his public image, as he climbed a tree in order to see Jesus. (Have you ever seen a tax-collector up a tree?) He recklessly abandoned his image and humbled himself. Passing by the tree, Jesus looked up and saw him. The “look” of God changes everything. Jesus summoned Zacchaeus to come down as he was coming to his house……..and all was changed in his life!

We can experience moments of desperation in our lives when we have to get past ourselves and recklessly abandon all in trust and humility. One look, one touch from the Lord changes the impossible and, like Zacchaeus, we are changed for eternity for God’s glory.

Why should I settle for less by hanging on to my identity, the right to myself? The fullness of God, – “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”, demands all ! It is not some rare, “to be hoped for” experience….it is my birthright. It is offered to me, it is open to me. I don’t want to settle for less by hanging on to the right to myself. Included in these “rights” are the strongholds in my life: my fears, my complaints, my pet dislikes, opinions and judgements……all needing to go on the altar to be burned up in the fire of God. The fire of God produces ashes and the wonder of it all is that in God’s brilliant plan, “He gives beauty for ashes.” The divine exchange! If I am willing to lose my identity in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit will form and extend the image of the Son in me.