“Today The Lord Jesus Christ Wants To Be Your Guest!”

“Today The Lord Jesus Christ Wants To Be Your Guest!”
“Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through…” This suggests that he did not intend to make a stopover in Jericho. But Zachaeus caused Jesus to stay in his house. By this the people of Jericho benefited from the teachings of Jesus. By Jewish categorization Zachaeus was a sinner because he was a chief tax collector, working for the colonial masters and helping in extorting his own people. Tax collectors are often extortionists and hoarders. That may explain why Zacaeus was wealthy.
While the people saw in Zachaeus a sinner, Jesus saw in him not only a sinner but a son of Abraham who stood in need of salvation and was willing to be saved.
The presence of Jesus in the home of Zachaeus brought Zachaeus to full repentance and he stood up and said, “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.” Zachaeus knew the Scriptures better than those who saw him as a sinner. He did not only know it, but was ready to apply it accordingly. The Law prescribed that a man who stole an ox or a sheep, when caught “must pay back five head of cattle for the ox or four sheep for the sheep”(Ex.22:1).
This was very fulfilling to Jesus “For the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost”(Lk.19:1-10). This is a key verse in Luke’s gospel.
My friend, Jesus is ready to be your guest at any time. Just make yourself available. When people see you as a sinner Jesus sees you as the lost whom he came to save. If you have known Christ fully then you must of a must share with the poor and give back to those whom you have cheated.
Prayer: Holy Spirit encourage me to always share with the poor and not to cheat others; as a response to the work of Christ in me. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!