“CHOOSE ME, JESUS!” Are your actions and words shouting that to God? One man, Zacchaeus, put himself in position to encounter Jesus. We may think of him as the ‘wee little man’, but he can teach us a lot about how to approach God.
Zacchaeus was recognized as a much-hated tax collector. Jews at that time would have considered him both a robber of the people and a collaborator in the Roman occupation. But Zacchaeus stepped out of his comfort zone to see Jesus. By going into a public place, he risked assault by the Jewish masses.
Jesus was popular among the crowds. He surprised the crowd when he looked at Zacchaeus up in the tree and said, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” (Luke 19:5). Jesus often picks who we don’t pick.
What can you do? Position yourself so that God can pick you. Don’t disqualify yourself.
Be the prayer person and worshiper you should be. Exalt Him and love Jesus more.
The crowd that hated tax collectors shifted their hatred from Zacchaeus onto Jesus. They might have also felt jealous and wanted to be chosen by Jesus. But Jesus knew what would happen when he called out to Zacchaeus. Jesus willingly took that hatred, disgust, and criticism onto himself.
Jesus can take on everything you’ve done and who you are. Cast all your cares on Him so that you can be chosen by God and experience revival.
1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.
2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.
3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd.
4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”
6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Questions:
In what ways can you step out of your comfort zone and pursue Jesus?
