The Untouchables: A Chief Tax Collector
‘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’. Jesus said to him ‘Today salvation has come to this house…’’
Luke 19:8 [NIV]
Luke 19:8 [NIV]
The crowd saw Zacchaeus as a sinner, he was hated because he had cheated and stolen their money. He oozed a persona of corruption and lies. How could Jesus associate, let alone dine with such a man? If you have time, you can read the whole story here.
Jesus saw the potential in this man, he saw what he could become, he just needed to be freed from this destructive way of living. This is exactly what Jesus did, He brought about an inward change in Zacchaeus that led to outward action. He was transformed through the power and healing of Jesus. What a witness to those who knew him and his reputation. Jesus knew what He was doing. What love! What acceptance!
We may not all have experienced such a dramatic transformation, but God calls us to give our lives to Him daily so that He can help us to be transformed more into His likeness and seek to think and act as He would. Out of this we, like Zacchaeus, can share Gods love in all that we do and say. God sees our potential and with His help we really can be the person God has created us to be.
Prayer – Precious Father, thank you that you always see my potential. Help me today to be transformed into your likeness. Amen
Heidi Timms
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