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Daily devotional · September 23

Seen in the Sycamore Tree

“Then Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, who was very wealthy. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but could not see over the crowd because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see Him, since Jesus was about to pass that way. When Jesus came to that place, He looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down, for I must stay at your house today.” So Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed Him joyfully. And all who saw this began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinful man!” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.””
Luke 19:1-10 (BSB)Read the whole chapter →

Zacchaeus is a tax collector, wealthy and disliked, and he is short. Curious about Jesus, he does something undignified and climbs a tree to see over the crowd. Then the surprise: Jesus stops right beneath him, calls him by name, and invites himself to dinner. Everyone grumbles, since Jesus is going to the house of a sinner. But look at what happens in Luke 19:8. Before anyone tells him to, Zacchaeus promises to give half his wealth to the poor and to repay anyone he cheated four times over. Being welcomed changes him more than condemnation ever could. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, and sometimes the lost person is simply curious and perched in a tree. Today, think of someone you have written off. Invite them for coffee or a meal, and let kindness go first. Ask God also which crowd you may be hiding in.

Also read

“But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.””

Luke 19:8

Prayer

Jesus, you called Zacchaeus by name, and you call me too. Help me welcome others as you welcome me.

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