Salvation has come to this house ...

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He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

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This story is in stark contrast to the wealthy man who came to Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. That wealthy man went away discouraged because Jesus told him to sell his things. In this story a wealthy man needed no instruction regarding his wealth. Does not your heart warm within you when Zacchaeus stands and gives half of what he has to the poor? I wonder what Jesus spoke over their meal that caused him to do something so outrageous?

The story reminds me that with God all things are possible. Everyone had written Zacchaeus of as a "sinner" beyond salvation. When Jesus came to his house they all grumbled. No one ever believed that this despicable man would ever change his ways. No one in the religious community ever took the time to come to his house and inquire of his soul? It makes you wonder. Perhaps every despicable and hated "sinner" is but one divine visit away from salvation?

Open my eyes up today to those who look good on the outside but are inwardly in pain.

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