Luke 19:1-10 (NRSV)
Read Luke 19:1-10 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 19He entered Jericho and was passing through it. Verse 2A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. Verse 3He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. Verse 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. Verse 5When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today." Verse 6So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. Verse 7All who saw it began to grumble and said, "He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner." Verse 8Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much." Verse 9Then Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. Verse 10For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost."
Devotion
When God comes to the heart of a human being, the person can perceive her/his true spiritual condition. Sometimes we do not like what we see. We realize we have lived selfishly and have less than our neighbors.
Zacchaeus did not know the word "solidarity." He loved only himself. For a man like Zacchaeus to make a decision to change, he must have been touched by huge love and power. When the Lord comes to a heart, the heart melts. Look what the text says: "… and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."
How much are you willing to return? Is it love, respect, consideration, friendship, loyalty, attention and forgiveness? As Christ comes to our lives, his presence transforms everything. He transforms not just our way of thinking, but our way of acting. Because of this, we are able to walk in reconciliation with everything and everybody. We can go to others because Jesus came to us.
Prayer
Beloved God: I love you and I want to be like Jesus your Son, my Savior and Lord. I want to be honest with myself and to be able to practice your Word indeed. Help me to deliver my life to you and transform my life. Amen.