March 28 Saving Sinners and Tax Collectors?

Luke 19:1-10 (NKJV) Selected Verses – Jesus Comes to Zacchaeus’ House
19 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd,……. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” …….. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”……..And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Parents sometimes say, when their child gets in trouble, the he or she just got mixed up with the wrong crowd. For we know that the people with whom you associate have an effect on you. So what about this Jesus character hanging out with sinners and tax collectors? What will people think? They all complained, saying “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” They were unhappy. We know Jesus did not care what people thought but why would he associate with a tax collector? They were considered the worst of the worst.

You may have noticed that Jesus did not go to the community leaders with His message of grace and forgiveness. Those leaders thought they already had God’s favor. They were not interested in Jesus’ message. “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” (John 1:11) God’s message and Word will not be thwarted! If the leaders would not receive Him, someone would! So why did He come? He came to seek and save that which was lost. He came for you and me! Thanks be to God that He did!

Zacchaeus received salvation that day because he believed in Jesus. Salvation is available to you and me today as well because He came. He seeks you. There is no place where He cannot find you and He will search to the ends of the earth. You are that important to Him. You are his masterpiece. You too are a son of Abraham and a son (or daughter) of God! Will you receive Him today?

Lord, we thank You that You never give up on us. We thank You that You will search until you find us and we find You. We praise You because we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Bring Your salvation to our house this day. In Jesus name we pray!

This entry was posted in Grace and Mercy. Bookmark the permalink.