Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
September 8, 2024
Luke 19:1-10
1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through town. 2 A man there named Zacchaeus, a ruler among tax collectors, was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but, being a short man, he couldn’t because of the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to that spot, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down at once. I must stay in your home today.” 6 So Zacchaeus came down at once, happy to welcome Jesus. 7 Everyone who saw this grumbled, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone, I repay them four times as much.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today, salvation has come to this household because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 The Human One came to seek and save the lost.”
Good Morning! Jesus said, “I’m coming to your house today!”
I don’t think I can ever read this passage without singing and making hand motions to the kids' song, “Zacchaeus was a Wee Little Man!” Zacchaeus is forever immortalized in my being.
Let’s think of Zacchaeus as an adult. He was a cheat, scoundrel, and sinner. To the Roman leaders, he did his job. To the Jewish leaders, he was lower than dirt. This dichotomy challenges us profoundly.
Many people strive to be successful in earthly things. Most don’t begin their trek to success with a plan to cheat and swindle others, but it is easy to become blinded by the glitz and glitter, and suddenly you start being a “little” dishonest. Then you step on that slippery slope, and your dishonesty becomes part of the plan. You think, “I’ll only cheat a little; I won’t really hurt anyone. After all, it’s what’s expected if you want to succeed.”
How far we fall at the expense of success! The Good News is present in this short passage. No matter how far we have fallen, Jesus calls us back home. Zacchaeus teaches us, through his example, to respond by giving back our ill-gotten gains and more to those we have cheated or harmed.
“Zacchaeus, you come down, for I’m coming to your house today.”
Faithful God, Thank you for creating us. We are sinners, and we make poor choices. Thank you for continuing to call us home. Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Christ offers new life for all people.
Come down; Jesus is calling! Pastor Liz
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