ZACCHAEUS

zacchaeusZacchaeus was “the wee little man” who climbed a tree so he could see Jesus as he passed by (Lk 19:1-10). He was a rich tax collector, the kind most people hated. But Jesus, during the peek of his public ministry, looked beyond the pressing admirers all around Him and saw this little fellow. Why? Because He was seeking lost souls to save (Lk 19:10). Everyone was valued by Him. The outcasts, the foreigners, the crippled, the poor … maybe up in a tree or hiding under a bush somewhere. Jesus sees all these people. Do we?? Jesus told Zacchaeus to come down at once because He must go with him to his house!

We must “devote ourselves and be watchful” to find people like this if we would be like Jesus (Col 2:1-4). The selfrighteous Pharisees may mutter and criticize. Jesus once told a crowd about sheep and goats. Sheep are gentle and peaceful, but goats are rough and tough and butt others out of their way. Did you see that forgotten, lonely person in the corner all alone? If you did, you are like Jesus and when you help one like this, you are actually helping Jesus! Read Matthew 25:31-46. Bullets or butting won’t change people, but just makes them mad. We can only win people by humbling ourselves, looking in the bushes and lifting the down-and-outers. Jesus came to “seek and save that which was lost!” (Lk 19:10)

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