Zacchaeus' encounter

Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Luke 19:1-10

With all the hustle and bustle going on around Jesus, He still had the time to look up and see Zacchaeus. He still made it a point to eat at Zacchaeus’ house. It makes me realize that everywhere around us there is a potential unbeliever turn believer. That when we are living it God’s way, they do notice us. The question is, do we notice them?

Many a times we get busy and go through life, hoping that the opportunity to witness might pop up as we do our daily chores. But are we sharp and observant enough to notice the opportunities themselves.

Take the time to look around you and notice things. God may be showing you the beauty of life or even revealing secrets to you. Don’t be too focused on the next task and the task after that. Take your time to look around and notice someone in need or someone who just needs another to talk to.

Even in ministry, there is always an opportunity to change someone’s life simply by taking the time to notice. If Jesus went about His ministry preaching His sermons and putting His full focus on His ministry, He wouldn’t have met Zacchaeus. He was observant enough to notice His twelve disciples too.

We need to slow down our pace sometimes and not keep ourselves too busy to notice others. After Zacchaeus came down as Jesus had asked him to, Zacchaeus received Jesus joyfully. If that could happen, couldn’t unbelievers receive us joyfully too?

A known tax collector is a sinner. Jesus went with him fully aware of that. Are we prepared to hang out with sinners? Most churches would say stay away from bad company and don’t mix around people who can corrupt you. I say that it is true that bad company corrupts good. That is why we need our stands and to not compromise them when we face these people. We can only influence others if our stand in God is unshakable.

Remember the phrase that Jesus will run to rescue you when you cry out to Him? V10 says, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” How much more will Jesus run to rescue the unbelievers who call unto Him! Have faith and no doubt that anyone who calls unto Him will be saved.