7/30/12. Luke 19:1-10. TO SEEK AND TO SAVE THE LOST-devotional

Luke 19:1-10  Key Verse: 19:10

Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF   Monday, July 30, 2012

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Dear Lord, thank you for opening my heart to your love and your truth. Thank you for helping me living in a relationship with you daily. Thank you for giving us a hope in the Kingdom of God. This world is not my permanent home. I am just passing through until I see you face to face in the kingdom of God. May saving faith be formed in each of my kids’ hearts. May they follow Jesus as their Lord and Savior, King and friend. Help them to grow spiritually during their years at school. May they know that you have saved them from their lostness and may they reach out to work alongside you to save the lost. Please open my eyes and my heart to your great work in Uganda. Please grant me one word of God through this passage. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Part 1: Jesus Stays At Zacchaeus’ House (1-6).

Verses 1-6 read, “Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.”

A crowd followed Jesus as he entered Jericho. A wealthy, chief tax collector named Zacchaeus heard about this. He very much wanted to see Jesus. However, he was short and no one would make way for a despised tax collector. Zacchaeus was not daunted. He ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see Jesus. Jesus saw him. He looked up and decided to stay at Zacchaeus’ home.

First, I see Jesus in this passage. I see Jesus befriending the friendless. I see Jesus taking the initiative to make friends with the friendless. Jesus went out of his way to make a relationship with Zacchaeus and he went out of his way to make a relationship with me. At 22 years of age, I had lots of friends, but they were mostly friendships based on having fun. There have been a few friendships that have been maintained over the decades. But even when I was 22, there were so many times when I felt all alone and empty and meaningless. This bore heavy on my soul, to the point of tears at times. But Jesus reached out to find me. He befriended me. His people befriended me. I felt the love of God and the friendship of God in so many ways.

Since that time, Jesus has been my good and faithful friend. He is with me through the thick and the thin. There are only a few people whom are with me, on a daily basis or even a weekly basis. There are a couple of people I can ask to go for a walk or go for a coffee. A few people may agree to meet together once every three weeks. My wife and kids are the most close to me. But my kids will one day move away. There are not many people who are close to me in this world. But Jesus is one who sticks closer than brother. Jesus is with me 24 /7. The people of God are always there. The relationships are there as much as I want to pursue them. But I thank God for Jesus who sought and saved what was lost, namely

I can also see Zacchaeus’ heart. He was really trying to see Jesus and to meet Jesus. From this passage, we learn that not only should we have a spiritual desire to see and know Jesus, but we must also act on it and seek Jesus with all our heart. Then we shall find him, for Jeremiah 29:13 reads, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” People tend to tip their hats to Jesus. They respect Jesus, but most seldom want to lift even a pinky finger to seek Jesus and to deny themselves even one thing in order to know and love Jesus. We need to take a lesson from Zacchaeus.
Most times, I am just recovering from a hard night’s work. I am just looking forward to some time to go for a walk. I am blank headed and hearted when it comes to seeking Jesus. I repent of this and I pray that my daily bread writing and posting may help me to see Jesus with my whole heart.

I need to be like Jesus and takes steps to enter in the lives of the lost of this world. I need to visit their homes and eat with them and I must share a life with the non Christians in this world and reveal the love of Jesus to them. I pray that God may open many doors for this to happen.

Part 2: Salvation Has Come To This House (7-10).

Verses 7-10 read, “All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

After Jesus invited himself to Zacchaeus’ home, the people muttered. They did not understand why Jesus would stay with a tax collector. This is true. Many people do not understand the meaning of Christian love and service. They question the motive. They do not now why we reach out to others. But it is purely for the love of God and to be a blessing to others. That is it. I pray that I may pure motives in befriending others in Jesus’ name. I also need to care about those whom others want to just toss aside.

But Zacchaeus was so thankful for Jesus’ grace. He vowed to give away half of his possessions and repay those whom he had cheated. It was his repentance. Salvation had come to Zacchaeus. There was real change in this man. I see many changes in Rob and Steve and my kids. The Holy Spirit is working in their hearts, transforming them into wonderful Christians.

Zacchaeus may have been looking for Jesus, but in fact, Jesus was seeking him. Jesus came into this world to seek and to save the lost like Zacchaeus and like you and me. Thank you Jesus for seeking and saving me. Help me to reach out to others who are lost in their sins.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for seeking me in order to save me. Work through me to bring the lost ones to you.

One Word: Jesus is seeking the lost