Are You Ready To R.E.A.C.H?
- Heidi Eva Jones
- Dec 19, 2025
- 5 min read
Volume 14 Issue 11
Greeting in His Name,
Even though the pandemic is over, many faith communities are still struggling. Most churches have stopped growing or are seeing fewer people attend. There are new ways to worship, but it seems our connection with God is not as strong as it used to be. I’ve noticed that our churches are not doing well with evangelism and discipleship either. As I mentioned in the last blog, many people know about God but don’t truly know Him. There are people out there ready to hear the message, and we need to reach them. This blog, called "Are You Ready to R.E.A.C.H?", is here to help you think and ask important questions.
shalom and love,
heidi
Luke 19:1-10 NIV (Please read passage first.)
Jesus’ entire ministry centered on reaching people. His mission was clear: reaching out to the lost, the broken, and those far from God. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus affirms His purpose:
- In Matthew 5:17, He declares, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
- In Mark 1:38, He says, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”
- In Luke 12:49, He reveals, “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!”
- And in John 6:38, He explains, “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.”
Clearly, Jesus came to do a revolutionary work—restoring all of humanity to God. His mission was radical and inclusive, inviting everyone into God’s family.
Let me ask you something. Verse 5 says, “When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, 'Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." Children of the Most High God, can you host Jesus today? More importantly, just as Jesus made an appearance, since this is an evangelistic message, can Jesus rely on you to make an appearance? Will you show up so that God may show out in you? Or is it just a photo opportunity? Jesus needs some hands and feet, He needs some mouths and ears, Jesus needs a heart and mind to reach some Zacchaeus’.
Upon examining the opening verses from Luke 19, it is apparent that Zacchaeus was seeking. And I believe he was seeking to find the one who would help him. Zacchaeus would be viewed as an outcast. He was a Jew, but he was also the chief tax collector. He was doing the dirty work of the Roman Empire. So, socially, he was not regarded. If anybody in the group could understand Zacchaeus, it would be Matthew. Who knows if Zacchaeus’ reason for seeking the Savior was because there was someone in the number of Jesus' disciples who was just like him. At any rate, Zacchaeus was seeking the Lord. As folk are seeking the Lord, they need some "folks" who can attest to a life of sin, but a God who brought them out. They need to see that you’ve been broken but healed. You may have been trodden upon, but now you are walking upright. Or as the hymnist would say, I was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see. They need to see God’s Amazing Grace.
Zacchaeus did. He saw God's amazing grace. You know how I know? Look at verse 8. Zacchaeus began to repent. The scripture says, “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.” Zacchaeus did this despite the chatter in the previous verse, ”he is a sinner.” Some people are waiting on you to help them come to the Master. They are not worried about the chatter from so-called friends or family. They need help. Tell somebody REACH!
The last blog posted was entitled "Open Your Mouth/Say Something; Proclaim Jesus!" And in that blog, I shared that there are some people who know Jesus, but they don’t know Jesus. Many have a knowledge of the man but no true encounter. And for some, they are dull and dead to the things of God, needing a spiritual awakening. We have to be the ones set on fire to reach. Set ablaze to reach the masses. We've got to be like Jesus and let them know TODAY salvation has come to your house. Are you ready to reach?
Jesus says in verse 10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” We are in the season of Advent, in expectation of the return of a Savior, the Messiah. Jesus has empowered every believer to reach a Zacchaeus. Who will you reach today?
God says reach. Reach beyond the brink. Surpass their point of crisis. Leap past their limitations. Dig deep beyond their impending disaster and GIVE THEM JESUS!
Jesus has completed His work; He did say, “It is finished.” However, our work is not done. We have picked up the torch to REACH. It is now our responsibility, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to REACH. So, as I put on my cheerleader uniform, I need you to...
GIVE ME A:
R. God says, Release yourself to Him
E. God says, Let Him Enter
A. God says, Allow Him to work through you
C. God says, Proclaiming Christ and Keep Proclaiming
H. God says, Help others to Heaven
The harvest is ready. John 4:34-35 (MSG),
“The food that keeps me going is that I do the will of the One who sent me, finishing the work he started. As you look around right now, wouldn’t you say that in about four months it will be time to harvest? Well, I’m telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at what’s right in front of you. These Samaritan fields [USA fields] are ripe. It’s harvest time!” Are you ready to REACH? I say it’s time to REACH.
please listen: https://youtu.be/MxkRtZyFO7o?si=e43eCbpO6npYLbB-
LIFE QUOTE
Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter.
– Charles Spurgeon
Let Us Laugh!
An elderly woman had just returned home from an evening church service when she realized there was an intruder in her home. Seeing that he was in the act of robbing her home of its valuables, the lady yelled “Stop! Acts 2:38!”
Hope to see you Next Month.... next week
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