Daily Good News – Jesus Offers to Make His Home with You

Apr 1, 2015 1280

“All the people…began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.’ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor…’ Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house’ (Luke 19:7-9).

As he was walking through Jericho, Jesus spotted a man who was so desperate to see him that he had climbed a tree to get a better view. He immediately stopped and invited himself to Zacchaeus’ house. Zacchaeus, says the Bible story, received him “with joy”. Jesus was full of those kinds of joyous surprises when dealing with people who desperately wanted to get to know him. He took no notice of the gossips accusing him of associating with sinners. After all, he had come to this world, not just to associate with sinners, but to die for them!

Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector of the area, and as such, was one of the most despised men in the town. And he was wealthy, so of course everyone saw him as a crook and a traitor. He was working for the enemy of their country and he was getting rich on the profits. But Jesus didn’t consider any of that. Here was a man who wanted to know him and who wanted to turn his life over to Jesus. Jesus never rejects anyone who wants to do that.

Jesus said that he would come to the person who loved him and obeyed his teaching and make his home with him (John 14:23). When Zacchaeus promised to turn his life around, Jesus announced, “Zacchaeus,… I must stay at your house today.” He will do the same for you, and he will stay forever if you ask him.

What would you need to do to have Jesus come and be your guest?

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