WORD&POWER for TODAY
LEARN THREE THINGS FROM ZACCHAEUS
“And when the people saw it, they all muttered among themselves and indignantly complained, He has gone in to be the guest of and lodge with a man who is devoted to sin and preeminently a sinner.” Luke 19:7 AMPC
(1) DON’T MEDDLE BETWEEN GOD AND THOSE WHO SEEK HIM: “And there was a man called Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, and [he was] rich. And he was trying to see Jesus, which One He was, but he could not on account of the crowd, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass that way.” Luke 19:2-4 AMPC
Those who complained that Jesus, being a righteous man was going into the house of Zaccheus a popular sinner did not see when Zaccheus was running ahead of the crowd, and then climbing the tree, just to see Jesus Christ. Think of a short man, a senior civil servant, a rich man, popular in the society, and a family man at that, running ahead of a crowd to climb a tree. He must have put his reputation, pride, and dignity aside to do that. That was his little effort to get close to the Savior. But, no one saw his efforts then, his critics focused on when Jesus proposed to lodge in his house.
(2) ZACCHAEUS WAS EXCITED TO RECIEVE JESUS INTO HIS HOME: “And when Jesus reached the place, He looked up and said to him, Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today. So he hurried and came down, and he received and welcomed Him joyfully.” Luke 19:5-6 AMPC
How many rich people welcome a Preacher into their homes? … arrogance wont let them. Jesus said it is very very hard for rich people to make it into Heaven because their wealth and comfort often get in between them and GOD. They always wrestle in between obeying GOD and keeping their riches. And please understand that Jesus wouldn’t come alone, His twelve Apostles, and some crowd would definitely follow Him. How many “comfortable” and rich fellows would tolerate that in their homes? Zacchaeus was rich, yet he saw Jesus coming into his house as something worth more than gold.
(3) HE WAS WILLING TO PLEASE GOD AND MEN IMMEDIATELY: “So then Zacchaeus stood up and solemnly declared to the Lord, See, Lord, the half of my goods I [now] give [by way of restoration] to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone out of anything, I [now] restore four times as much.” Luke 19:8 AMPC
On hearing that the people were complaining about Jesus coming into his house, considering the fact that he had cheated people and taken advantage of the poor; he was ready to correct his errors immediately. Some people dont change so fast. They would rather argue with the people and tell them off. After all, Jesus already had chosen to come to his house, their opinion should not matter much. Zacchaeus did not do that. Right there and then, he was willing to remove every reason that Jesus should not come to his house …and to make things right with those he might have offended.
Think about it, he was willing to split all his possessions into two, and give half to the poor. And he would repay four times if he had cheated anyone. Do rich people part ways with riches so easily, even when they know they are obviously wrong? Zacchaeus proved that money would not hinder him from going to Heaven. He proved that he would not serve mammon but GOD.
CONCLUSION:
Dont be quick to write people off because you know so much about their past, you do not know what they did with GOD when you were not watching. Welcome Jesus, and His messengers in your life and household. And do not claim to love GOD when your relationship with people is not right.
Have you been blessed by this message? …spread the WORD, share with your friends. As it is written; “The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” -Psalms 68:11 KJV
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Daily Bible study guide
In The Morning: 2 Samuel 10, 11, 12
In The Evening: Luke 19:29-48
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