“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” – Luke 19:10 (NIV)
We read the account of a man named Zacchaeus, who was a tax collector, in Luke 19. Of course, he was rich, but no amount of riches could endear him to the people. He was hated and despised. But he had heard of Jesus, and he wanted to see this Man he had been hearing so much about. The sick were healed by Him, the deaf could hear again, and the dumb spoke.
Zacchaeus was short and could not see above the crowds that followed Jesus, so he climbed a tree and waited to see this Man as He passed. But to his amazement, Jesus did not pass him by. He stopped, looked up into the tree, and called Zacchaeus down, saying, “I must stay at your house today” (v 5). When the crowds heard this, they were shocked. ‘How could Jesus go to the house of a thief and a crook like Zacchaeus?’ they asked. But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to Zacchaeus, “Today salvation has come to this house…For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:9-10).
Yes, brothers and sisters, you might be having the same thoughts about people you know to be evil. Why do they seem to prosper? But God knows the heart of every man, and an encounter with Jesus can bring lasting change. Zacchaeus was convicted and committed to distributing his riches to the poor and restoring to others four times what he had “cheated” them.
Oh, what a change when Jesus comes in! He came to redeem sinful man back to God, as He said in Luke 5:31, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” (NKJV). Jesus came not to call the self-proclaimed righteous who see no need to repent. He came for sinners to turn them from sin to righteousness.
Prayer
Change my heart, Lord. Let my righteousness be of You. Give me the desire to see Christ formed in others, no matter who they are, and let me share the Good News of the kingdom with them. Amen.
Read: Luke 5: 31-32; Luke 15:3-7
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 94:1-11; I Corinthians 6; 2 Chronicles 1
