Jesus asks one man to change, he can't. Jesus asks the other man for a relationship, he changes.

I realized something amazing after the message on wednesday.

In Luke 18 a rich religious young ruler comes and asks Jesus how he can enter life (heaven, eternal life, age to come, etc.) and Jesus responds that he must sell all he has and give to the poor. We learned that Jesus responded this way because the man struggled with wanting all the stuff he could get, and that he walked away sad because he couldn't let that go.

Here's where it gets interesting.

In Luke 19 Jesus calls Zacchaeus and tells him “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” AND LOOK AT ZACH'S RESPONSE:

“Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 

You guys catch what just happened there? Jesus asked a rich religious ruler to give what he had to the poor and he walks away sad. Then he tells Zacchaeus, the rebellious tax collector, he's going to his house for dinner and Zach responds that he's going to give his stuff to the poor!

Wait did we miss something here? Both men struggle with wanting more. Jesus asks the religious one, the one inclined to follow the law, to give up his stuff; he can't. He tells the sinner, the one who is inclined to keep living the way he is, that hes coming to dinner and he replies by giving up his stuff. This is crazy. Jesus asks one man to change, he can't. Jesus asks the other man for a relationship, he changes.

Change is going to happen as we know and follow Jesus. It happens in relationship. 

So, don't like the rich ruler go away sad that change hasn't happened, but like Zach get into being with Jesus and he will change you!

ty