Luke 19-7.26.22

SCRIPTURE: 

Luke 19: 9 

"Today salvation has come to this house," Jesus told him, "because he too is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost."

OBSERVATION: 

Jesus was passing through Jericho. A man named Zacchaeus who was a very rich chief tax collector was trying to see Jesus, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was such a short man.  He ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since He was about to pass that way.  When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today I must stay at your house."  So, he quickly came down and welcomed him joyfully.  All who saw it began to complain, "He's going to lodge with a sinful man!"  But, Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, I'll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord!  And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I'll pay back four times as much!"

"Today salvation has come to this house, Jesus told him, "because he too is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost."

UNDERSTANDING: 

Zacchaeus took the first step in approaching Jesus.  He wanted to see Him.  And as he made his way through the crowd, he climbed the tree.  Jesus met him right where he was, and looked up, and called him by name. He gave Zacchaeus an invitation to spend time with him.   After his personal encounter with Jesus, Zacchaeus had an immediate heart change, and he made right what he had done wrong.   He wanted to make restitution by giving to the poor, and he was willing and ready to pay back four times the amount to anyone he had cheated!  Those outward actions demonstrated the inward change that had taken place in his heart.  

Jesus came to seek and to save the lost.  Giving to the poor didn't save Zacchaeus, nor was it being willing to give back four times what he had cheated anyone that saved him.  It was his faith in Jesus that Zacchaeus was forgiven and made new.  

LIFE APPLICATION: 

Jesus is our example, and He demonstrated countless times how important it was to Him to seek and to save the lost.  As Christ followers, we are to pray and ask the Lord of the harvest to help us seek out the ones He wants us to share His love with.  He has given us everything we need to partner with Him.  He has given each one of us gifts, talents, abilities, and resources to  share as we build up His kingdom.  It's important to Him that we seek out the lost, so it should be just as important to us!

I pray I will be faithful to use what God has entrusted to me as I go and seek the lost, so that others may also receive what I have been given; the gift of salvation, which God has graciously and generously invited us all to receive who believe that His Son, Jesus Christ is Lord of all!     

-Robin Orefice