God's Gospel Truths
Luke 19:1-10
Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
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 because he was short he could not see over 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 to him, “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.”
~ Jesus
Pondering Point
How many of Zacchaeus’ neighbors would have loved to host Jesus in their home that day? How many of those neighbors would have loved to have Jesus call their name within a crowd of people?
Jesus poured grace into the life of a sinful man that day. That grace then overflowed through Zacchaeus into the lives of his neighbors. While their initial reaction was to mutter in disgust, I imagine that their later reaction was to shudder in awe when Zacchaeus started to repay victims and help out the poor.
Rather than resent God’s kindness to others, let’s celebrate it with them.
Prayer for the Day
Lord Jesus, today's reading has encouraged us to celebrate others and their blessings from You, to celebrate their encouragement from You even if we are feeling a lack of that personally. Let us not envy what others receive from You but rejoice knowing You will give us all things that we need and the desires of our heart in Your good and gracious time. Amen.