Luke 19:1-10 (NRSV)
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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
Upon coming to Zacchaeus's house, Jesus called him a son of Abraham. This was not an idle title. These were words of promise. They echoed God's promise to Abraham that his descendants would be called out as blessed by God in order to be a blessing to others. It was an invitation to be a part of the family. What a day it had been for Zacchaeus! He had found himself lost in a crowd, up a tree. Now he had the opportunity to welcome Jesus into his home and, at the same time, to be welcomed as part of the family of God.
We have that same invitation to be part of God's family and the opportunity that goes with it. We have been blessed to be a blessing to others. A transformed Zacchaeus responded by offering half of his possessions to the poor and returning fourfold the money he had defrauded. How has God's promise of forgiveness transformed us to be family members who can bless others?
Prayer
God of Invitation, we thank you for welcoming us as a part of your family. As members of your family we seek to be a blessing to others. Prosper our efforts to bless others with our service among them. Amen.