eMseni Methodist Church

Daily Devotion for Tuesday 7 July 2026

Read - Luke 19:1-10

“When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.” vs 5

This is a lovely story which delighted us as young children as we sang about Zacchaeus in Sunday School and delights us still.

Zacchaeus was not just a ‘nobody’; he was actively distrusted and ignored. No-one believed that he collected their taxes honestly, thinking he was a cheat and a liar. Yet, Jesus noticed him up in that sycamore-fig tree. Everyone was shocked because this was one person who did not deserve the friendship of Jesus in their opinion.

Perhaps that’s the secret to a friendship with Jesus. Perhaps we need to realise how little we deserve His time and attention. We are told often in Scripture to ‘humble ourselves’ before God. We are to come meekly into His presence, realising that He loves us with a great and undeserved love and that it is His pleasure to be fully present in our lives. He wants to share our lives with us.

The words of the old Gospel song come to my mind: “He walks with me and He talks with me” and He tells me I am His own.

May you discover Jehovah Shammah. He is the God who is present. The last words John Wesley gasped out before dying was: “The best of all is, God is with us”. He knew Jehovah Shammah.

Prayer: Lord, when I turn my eyes on myself, I see my loneliness. When I turn my eyes on You, I see Your presence, Your friendship and Your love.

Hello eMseni Family, I trust you are well and warm this morning.

📖 This Sunday Ps Jonathan Coates will begin our new sermon series on the Redemptive names of Jehovah. This week we will look at God’s name Jehovah Shammah – ‘The Lord Is There’.

We look forward to warm fellowship together.
🕣The 07:30 service will take place in the Grace Chapel.
💜 There will be a time of communion during the service.
☕After-service tea/coffee will be served in the Lapa.

🕘 The 09:00 service will take place in the eMseni Sanctuary.
🧡Children’s Church & Youth will meet in the Church and later move to the Children’s Church Building / Community Centre
☕After-service tea/coffee will be served in the eMseni Sanctuary Hall.