SPRING FORTH NOW 2026

January 18

And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Luke 19:1-10

Sometimes progress requires a different angle, especially when the crowd blocks your view. Luke 19:1–10 (KJV) shows Zacchaeus climbing a tree because Focus will always find a way to rise above limitation. Being High And Lifted Up here isn’t pride—it’s intention, the decision to position yourself where transformation can see you. For Black people and our communities, this story reminds us that we don’t wait for permission to change our lives; we pursue vision with courage and creativity. When Jesus calls Zacchaeus down, purpose meets preparation, and restoration follows Focused action. What begins as curiosity becomes commitment, and hands once shaped by harm become tools of repair. This word speaks across generations: lift your focus, shift your position, and let encounter turn into change.