“And he ran before , and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him: for He was to pass that way”. “ …….He looked up and saw him and said unto him Zachaeus make haste and come down for today I must abide at thy house”.
Luke 19: 4-5
1Thessalonians 1:15 says,”…… Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners: of whom I am chief”. Yes Jesus came to seek and save sinners. In this story of Zachaeus we saw that his act was very undignified for a man of power and wealth.( “he ran before and climbed up into a sycamore tree”.) It shows his genuine spiritual interest in Jesus. Jesus knew his name and invited Himself to Zachaeus home .When Jesus asked Zachaeus to come down , he came down immediately and received Jesus joyfully ( Luke 19:6)
When Jesus calls us the response He desires from us is immediate, willing and joyful. His disciples also showed the same response when He called them. They immediately left their nets and followed Him. (Mathew 4: 20-22).sometimes the calling may be for the complete departure from our job, family or familiar things as Abraham was called to do. Sometimes to remain in our settings as a changed person in Christ,filled with Holy Spirit, and bring light to the place where we are. We are given a fair warning in scripture not to disregard His call
John 12:48 says,”He that rejecteth me ,and received not my words ,had one that judge th him ;the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day”.
We need to receive Jesus joy fully in our hearts and lives . When we do so the Lord will build our house. He is not bothered about our status,past or anything. We only need to listen to His words. We need to climb down from our positions, from our past and from our comfort zone. If we are close to Him,He will feed us with His divine Manna which gives us eternal life. Zachaeus made peace with God by opening the doors of his house for Jesus and His disciples and restitute all that he had taken from others by returning a fourfold. He committed to give half of his wealth to the poor. We need to make peace with God by repenting for our past faults and failings.
Zachaeus eagerness to seek Jesus was rewarded by a divine visitation. by Jesus. Zachaeus had many negative things in his life – short stature, corruption and bad reputation. But it all changed the day he ran after Jesus. After entering in his home Jesus said, “Today salvation has come to this household, for he,too,is a son of Abraham”. If we run after Jesus,our lives will be transformed. Zachaeus became hospitable and gave priority to Jesus in his life.
Hearing and obeying Jesus should be the chief Joy of our lives.
Heavenly Father we want to hear your voice and obey you always. Help us to do so always In Jesus precious name I pray, Amen.
Sol.Gigi Jacob