Luke 19: 1-10
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.’ ”
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.”
Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”
A Thought
Jesus came to redeem all people because all have sinned. Jesus will completely change our lives into a new, different person when we fully submit to him. Those who steal or even those who are just greedy, will become a new creation who want to give freely, filled with love for others. Those who are self-centered, will then be concerned about their family, friends and neighbors. Zacchaeus was a completely changed person because of the salvation of Jesus the Christ, the son of God. The more we trust and obey God’s word, the more we will be like Christ filled with his love and forgiveness.
Our Prayer
Father thank you for salvation available to all who believe in you and obey your word. Teach us by the power of your Holy Spirit how we can become the people you have created us to be in truth and love for you and others. Thank you that you continue to forgive and change us into your likeness each day as we submit to you. Save us, we ask in Jesus’ name, amen.
