Today we look at another great example of how Jesus lived. Being the Church, we want to live how Jesus lived because we represent Jesus in our areas of influence. We want everyone to be saved!! So let's take a look:
Luke 19:1-10 NIV
[1] 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. [7] 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.”
Jesus decided to hang out with Zacchaeus on this particular day. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector. He collected money for the Roman Empire from the Jews and yet he was a Jew himself. Being the chief tax collector, he had others under him collecting taxes while he did too. He cheated his own people out of money and all for Rome, while he himself was a Jew.
So when Jesus went to his house, the people began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a sinner." They were mad because Jesus wanted to hang out with a man they perceived to be a bad guy versus hanging out with them. They judged him based on what he did and how he acted. They didn't think he deserved to be with Jesus. They thought they were better than him. Sound familiar Church?
So, how can I "spur you onto love and good deeds" with this scenario? By looking at what Jesus did. Learning from His example and then doing likewise.
Simply? Jesus loved this man. He didn't care who he was or what he did or how he had acted. Zacchaeus was lost and that's why Jesus came to his house that day. Jesus didn't care what the people thought. He was there to do the Father's will. Zacchaeus was lost and Jesus went there to save him.
[10] For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
While everyone else was judging him, Jesus was loving him.
There's the lesson. Jesus loved this man. Jesus wanted this man saved and nothing was going to stop Him. We all needed to be saved at some point in our past and now we are. We should not prevent others from being saved by a lack of love for them. We should not look down on people or judge them or do anything to prevent them from coming to Christ, since that is the purpose of the Church.
We all need God's grace and mercy every day of our lives because we ALL "fall short of the glory of God"(Rom.3:23) every day. "It is by grace you have been saved." Remember where we came from:
Ephesians 2:1-5 NIV
[1] As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, [2] in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. [3] All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. [4] But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, [5] made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Nobody is better than anybody else. Period. So it doesn't matter who people are or where they come from or what their background is or what they do or how they act. It also does not matter what everyone else thinks about them either. You just love them like Jesus did!!
What is most important? Are they saved? Are they born again? Have they received Christ? Have they been adopted into the kingdom of God by faith in Christ Jesus? Are they going to heaven when they die? THAT'S WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT.
Follow Jesus' example and love everyone, no matter who they are. Don't worry about what everyone else thinks. You love them like Jesus did. Don't ever prevent anyone from being saved because of your words or actions.
Jesus came to seek and save the lost and that's what we are here for too. Find the lost so they can be saved too and added to the family of God, the kingdom of God.
Love you all dear readers,
Jeffrey Post
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