Luke 19:5 (NIV): “When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’"
I wonder what must have been going through the mind of Zacchaeus that faithful day. This man, who was a liar, a cheat, despised by others because of his sinful lifestyle, had heard rumors about this Jesus. Stories about how the Christ could heal, how He could deliver, how He loved all must have captivated Zacchaeus’s curiosity; so much so that he just had to see for himself what all the fuss was about. Could this Jesus possibly love someone like him? The Bible said that Zacchaeus was short in stature, so in order to get a good glimpse of Christ as He passed through the city, Zacchaeus climbed up in a tree…a place where he could see, but not be seen. When Jesus reached Zacchaeus’s perch, He immediately called for him to come down. With compassion in His eyes and hope in His voice, Christ explained, “You are why I am here.”
As clever as his hiding place seemed to be, Zacchaeus could not hide himself from Christ that day, and neither can we. Make no mistake, Christ sees through the veils and masks we hide behind. He knows the secret places of our hearts and minds. When everyone else judges and rejects, Jesus extends His open arms and bids you come just as you are. Today, as you read this devotion, listen to the voice of Hope as He assures, “You are why I am here.”
Spend time with Jesus today!
Theresa
I wonder what must have been going through the mind of Zacchaeus that faithful day. This man, who was a liar, a cheat, despised by others because of his sinful lifestyle, had heard rumors about this Jesus. Stories about how the Christ could heal, how He could deliver, how He loved all must have captivated Zacchaeus’s curiosity; so much so that he just had to see for himself what all the fuss was about. Could this Jesus possibly love someone like him? The Bible said that Zacchaeus was short in stature, so in order to get a good glimpse of Christ as He passed through the city, Zacchaeus climbed up in a tree…a place where he could see, but not be seen. When Jesus reached Zacchaeus’s perch, He immediately called for him to come down. With compassion in His eyes and hope in His voice, Christ explained, “You are why I am here.”
As clever as his hiding place seemed to be, Zacchaeus could not hide himself from Christ that day, and neither can we. Make no mistake, Christ sees through the veils and masks we hide behind. He knows the secret places of our hearts and minds. When everyone else judges and rejects, Jesus extends His open arms and bids you come just as you are. Today, as you read this devotion, listen to the voice of Hope as He assures, “You are why I am here.”
Spend time with Jesus today!
Theresa
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