This week in the Gospel of Luke a camel goes through the eye of a needle. Salvation comes to the house of a rich scoundrel, a chief tax collector. What is impossible with man is made possible by God.
And I love how it comes to his house. We’re not told Zacchaeus goes looking for salvation. He’s just curious to see who this Jesus is. But he finds that Jesus earnestly desires to have fellowship with him and receives him joyfully. Jesus initiates and he responds with faith.
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. (Luke 19:5-6)
Must? The Son of Man must share a meal with a notorious sinner? Yes. He loves the lost. He came to seek them and save them. And we are included in the “them.”
“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:3–4)
This Sunday Junior Jamreonvit will be preaching Luke 19:1-10 and Kenny Clark will be leading our sung worship. Would you pray for each as they prepare? Pray that there might be some who come to Grace out of curiosity but leave having joyfully received Jesus and beginning to bear the fruit of salvation. Ask the Lord to deepen your wonder and gratitude that the Son of Man cares for you and wants to have fellowship with you. And pray that your life would give clear evidence that salvation has come to your house.
See you Sunday, Grace. Come hungry!
SONG OF THE WEEK
Be Glorified by Lindy Cofer (cowritten by Justin Unger)
Not to us but to Your Name
Be all the praise and glory
If my life speaks then let it say
That I glorified Your Name
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