Zacchaeus

October 10

Luke 19:1-10

A tax collector in a tree?

As Jesus was passing through the town of Jericho, a large number of people lined the streets to see Him. In the same town lived a tax collector named Zacchaeus who had cheated many people. He stood right at the back somewhere, and because he was short, he couldn’t see Jesus. So he ran on ahead and climbed a tree.

When Jesus passed by, He stopped, looked up into the tree and said, “Zacchaeus, come down, because I must come and stay with you today!”

Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed Jesus with great joy. Then he said to Jesus, “I will give half of what I own to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay him back four times as much!”

Would Zacchaeus have met Jesus if there had not been a tree?

Do you think Zacchaeus’ life would have changed if that big tree had not been next to the road?

While Jesus was on earth He could only be in one place at a time. Even so, He changed the lives of many people by going out of His way to meet those who were searching for truth. Now that Jesus is in Heaven, He makes Himself known to every single person who wants to know Him.

God said, “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart" Jeremiah 29:13. He is watching for anyone whose heart longs to find Him. Whenever someone, like Zacchaeus, wants to meet Jesus, God in His power can make it happen. God can work things out for that person to be in the right place at the right time to hear about Jesus and invite Him into his heart.

Maybe God wants to use you to speak to someone at your school who, like Zacchaeus, wants to meet Jesus.

Verse for today

For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chronicles 16:9