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
“I must stay at your house today.” Today, think of “house” as your congregation. Imagine that you got the word that Jesus was coming to visit your congregation next Sunday. Imagine all the preparations that you would go through—the building would be thoroughly cleaned; the musicians would put in extra time rehearsing; you’d serve a full brunch; you would put up displays to show Jesus all the ministries you’re doing and those you plan to do. You’d do all that and more if you knew Jesus was going to come to your “house” next week and, I daresay, your offerings would be greater than usual, because, well, Jesus is coming.
Friends, Jesus comes to our congregations every Sunday!
“This is my body. This is my blood.”
“Where two or three are gathered in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.”
Let us strive to bring Jesus our best of everything and do ministry in his name. Like Zacchaeus, we do this because we know “salvation has come to this house.”
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I pray for my congregation today—our pastor(s), our staff, our members of all ages. Fill us and our ministries with the anticipation that you are coming to our house, for indeed you are! Amen.