Bro. Eddie Ministries Reading Plan: The Word Gives HopeHalimbawa

Want to be saved?

A commotion was going on. To push and hit could not be avoided either. All wanted to get the best position to see Jesus. They heard He has the power to cast out demons, make blind men see and raise the dead to life. No wonder. Everybody wants to see Him with his or her own eyes.

The power that drew them to Jesus was tremendous. They could not tell if it was just their human nature to sleuth. They could not understand His charm that pulls them to gather around Him.

Amidst the noise, the chief tax collector could not see anything. His small height made all his efforts to see Jesus futile. But he really wanted to see Him. He knew he just had to. And the unruly crowd, heat, or his height would not stop him. Then he saw a sycamore tree!

“So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.

“And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.’” (Luke 19:4-5)

Could it be real? His heart was pounding very fast! Why did He single him out and call him by name? How come He knew him? How come He knew where he was? How come He wanted to dine with him in his house? Why him?

“So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.” (v. 6)

He could hear the murmurings of the crowd. They seem to be asking, “Why did He go with him? He’s a sinner!”

The Bible did not tell what happened in the house of Zacchaeus. But it went on to say that Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.

“And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he is also a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.’” (vv. 8-10)

Today, salvation can also come into your house! We need to be like Zacchaeus if we want to be saved.

Let us desire to see Him who possesses the power to give us life. (John 3:16; John 14:6; 1John 5:12)

Let us not allow the negative circumstances to block us from seeking Him. Let us come to Him even if we abound in sin. In spite of who we are. For He is able to change us. Remember that those who seek Him and desire to welcome Him into their hearts find Him.

Let us make haste to respond when we hear Him call us. Come down from where we are. Let us humble before Him. Admit that we are nothing without Him. (John 15:5b). And let us receive Him joyfully into the “house” of our heart.

Let us correct the wrong thing that we did. Restore what we have taken in bad faith. For it is futile to say that we are saved when we do not manifest its power.

This is the power of a changed life – making amends, making right the wrong, and doing what will please our Lord and Savior. This is the evidence of a life that God has touched.
Make sure you will not let go of this day without salvation coming into your own “house!”

Reflection:
1. Will all people be saved? Why or why not?
2. What did Jesus see in Zacchaeus that He chose to come to his house? What do you think Jesus saw in you when He first came to your heart?

Only Christ can make us good people.