Come Home for Christmas
Thursday, December 14, 2006
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, my prayer today is that I will rejoice when Jesus “goes to be the guest of a sinner,” rather than grumbling as the crowd did when they saw Jesus accompanying Zacchaeus to his home. I pray I will always recognize that although I may not look like a “notorious sinner” that my sins are just as serious to You as were Zacchaeus or anyone else in history. Thank You for forgiving me of my sins, through the shed blood of Jesus, and for offering that forgiveness to all people. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may have the same compassion for sinners as Jesus, and that I will never get to the point where I believe that I am better than anyone else. I pray for the “notorious sinners” of our world today. Just as Zacchaeus’ transformation made a major impact in his day, so will the transformation of notorious sinners in any era. I pray that You will give me the courage to invite such folks into conversation and into my life that I may tell them of the transforming power of Jesus. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God’s Word Today
Luke 19:1-10
1Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was one of the most influential Jews in the Roman tax-collecting business, and he had become very rich. 3He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowds. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree beside the road, so he could watch from there.
5When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! For I must be a guest in your home today.”
6Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7But the crowds were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.
8Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have overcharged people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”
9Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a son of Abraham. 10And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those like him who are lost.”
Reflecting on God’s Word
How do you think you would have felt about Jesus inviting Himself to Zacchaeus’ home if you were part of the crowd that day? Why?
A Deeper Exploration of God’s Word
What was Zacchaeus’ response to Jesus invitation to take Him to his house as a guest?
What was the crowd’s response to Jesus’ invitation to Zacchaeus?
Why do you suppose “the crowds” so often find fault with God’s grace being extended to sinners?
Understanding God’s Purpose for Us
According to Luke 19:6-7 what is God’s purpose for our lives, and what is NOT our purpose for God’s lives?
Applying God’s Word to Our Purpose
Today’s Scripture reminds us that sometimes applying God’s word to our lives means that we will NOT do something. In this case what we are called not to do is “grumble” when God shows mercy to “notorious sinners.” Take some time right now to confess any unconfessed sin in your own life, to repent of those sins and commit to God that you will rejoice when the lost come to know Jesus. Take some time, too, to lift up those in prayer who would be considered “notorious sinners” in our day, and to ask God to pour out His Spirit on them and to invite them home!
Write any thoughts or reflections on this time below:
Thoughts—“The Crowds Grumbled...”
In every era the crowds grumble when good things happen to bad people. Zacchaeus was undoubtedly one of the most hated men in Jericho. While he was prominent and wealthy, he was a tax collector. The average citizen would have considered Zacchaeus a liar, a thief and a traitor. Why, then, did Jesus choose to invite Himself to be a guest at the home of such a “notorious sinner”? The crowds want what is right and fair, not was it is gracious and merciful? That is until the crowd is being judged. The crowd wants grace and mercy extended to its members, but when one sinner is singled out for grace and mercy the crowd reacts by saying, “I’m better than he is. Why is Jesus going with HIM? That’s not fair. We taught our children early on that life is NOT fair. Bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people. Actually good and bad things happen to ALL people, and according to the Bible ALL people are bad—that is fallen and in a state of sin apart from Jesus. The crowds judged Zacchaeus by a different standard. They saw some sins as “big” and others as “small.” The small sins aren’t to be a worry in our lives. Zacchaeus was a “big” sinner, so they could judge him and feel good about themselves as they grumbled. Thank God that Jesus died for the big and small sins of our lives, because EVERY sin carries the death penalty with it!