‘Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. ‘ Luke 19:1-9(NLT)
Zaccheaus was like a guy in a community with few friends or no friend, he was hated, despised as a traitor and passionately disliked for what he did. When he made the effort to see Jesus by climbing the tree, Jesus said, “Today I will live in your house.” (Luke 19:5)
Surprised by the invitation Zaccheaus responded by giving half of his possessions to the poor, and offering restitution to anyone he had cheated. Jesus replied, “Today salvation has come to this house.”
When we truly meet Jesus and show desire to make right our past wrongs we get a fresh start, a clean sheet, a new chapter, a new hope called salvation; which is only found in Jesus. Like Zaccheaus Jesus will stay in our home, eat with us and bless us.
I want to encourage you on this final day of this devotional plan that until God calls you home, everything is possible with Him but you will need to meet Jesus, whom all things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. Amen
from When You Meet Jesus Richard Owusu Bediako