READ:
Luke 19:1-10
The Son of Man has come
to seek and to save that
which was lost. -Luke 19:10
Lachian Macquarie, governor of New South Wales from 1810-1821, had a way of making everyone feel included in the new colony. When the "exclusives" (free settlers, civil servants, and military officers) shunned the society of the "emancipists" (transported convicts given conditional or absolute pardon), Governor Macquarie insisted that they be treated as social equals.
Jesus showed interest in Zacchaeus, a shunned tax collector in Jericho, and included him in the recipients of His salvation plan (Luke 19:1-10). A marginalized and hated man because of his profession, Zacchaeus was desperate to see Jesus and climbed a tree to get a glimpse of Him. When Jesus passed by, He saw Zacchaeus' desire and told him to come down because he had a divine appointment at his house. Some complained that Jesus was spending time with a sinner. His loving attention changed Zacchaeus' life. He repented and offered restitution for those he had defrauded. Salvation had come to his house.
Jesus' mission was simple: Diligently search for lost people, whatever their social standing, and offer them God's salvation plan. As followers of Christ, we too have that as our mission. - Marvin Williams
Lord, help us show compassion
To a world that's lost in sin,
So when we share the gospel,
Hungry souls for Christ we'll win. -Sper
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Christ's mission is our mission.
INSIGHT
In today's familiar story, Zacchaeus gives half of his goods to the poor and vows to return four times what he has wrongfully taken from anyone. This is evidence that he knew the law of Moses, which specified not simply restitution but increased repayment of anyone who cheated or stole from another (Exodus 22:1, Leviticus 6:4-5; Numbers 5:7). Jesus responded that such action indicated true conversion: "Today salvation has come to this house" (Luke 19:9).
Have a blessed day.
God Our Creator's Love Always
Unity & Peace
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