(This post is part of a series. If you'd like to know what it's all about, go here.)
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 the lost.”
(Luke 19:1-10)
Jesus, I thought of You today as we passed by sycamore trees on our walk. Like Zacchaeus, I've been eagerly looking for You each day of this 40 day adventure. And just as You were with Zacchaeus, You've been so gracious to me. You looked past his sin and his physical appearance, and shot straight for his heart. You saw this short man's curious longing for You, and You graced his home not only with Your presence, but with Your salvation. Zacchaeus was undone, cut to the heart, a changed man after just a moment in Your presence. Oh, Jesus, You are so wonderfully beautiful and good. Thank You for seeing the longing in my own heart, looking past my many shortcomings, and spending time with me anyway. You have graced me with the gift of Your presence, and I am forever changed. ~R
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