“Would He Be a Guest In Your Home”

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

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 19:5)

What would you do today if a stranger walked up to your door needing a place to stay?  Your guest doesn’t look that impressive.  His only possessions are the clothes on his back.  After further inquiry you discover he was born the son of peasants.  He owns no home, nor does he even aspire to such.  This man of twenty-five years never went to college.  He has no high position in a corporation, and has no such ambitions.  He has never been out of state, except while in exile just after his birth.  In fact he has done nothing that by world standards would be deemed successful.  Would you invite him to be your guest?

The city of Jericho was a great taxation center.  Some have called it the Las Vegas of Palestine.  It was just the right place for an ambitious tax collector.  Zacchaeus was head of the customs department in Jericho.  It was an occupation where it was easy to commit injustices and thus become rich.

On the day Jesus entered Jericho, Zacchaeus’ life would be forever changed.  Jesus made a startling announcement to him: "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house."  Against incredible odds, Zacchaeus gladly receives him as a guest.  Surely one of such status would want to protect his belongings and reputation.

Why would he invite this road weary stranger to sit on his couch?  Who is he to sit at his table?  What if he refuses to leave?  He has nothing to offer materially in return.  Would you have accepted Jesus’ challenge?  Be honest.  Look at him from a purely fleshly viewpoint.  He has no wealth.  He has never written a book, nor founded a college.  He has no fancy building for a place to preach.  Would you have invited him into your home?

What would motivate Zacchaeus to take such a risk?  The answer is simple:  He was rich, but lonely.  Despised and hated by men he sought the love of God.  This man, short in stature, climbed into a tree hoping for just a glimpse.  However, Zacchaeus’ ambition was rewarded beyond his wildest imagination!  “Salvation” came to his house!

Now here is the challenge.  Would you have invited Jesus into your home?  Consider these words of Jesus.  Speaking of caring for the needy, the infirmed, and the prisoner, he said, “I tell you, as often as you did it to one of these my Brothers, however lowly, you did it to me.'” (Matthew 25:40 TCNT)  Do you see the connection?  When we have served the lowly, we have truly served Him.  

Tomorrow Jesus may be passing through your home town wherever it is.  He may want to have dinner with you.  He wants to talk with you about eternal matters.  What about it?  Has he knocked on your heart’s door?  Have you let Him in?     Zacchaeus left the path of common sense and made a leap of faith that radically changed his life.  What about you?

By George Slover

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