This is a paraphrase of Luke 19:1-10
Jesus and his disciples entered the town of Jericho. They were just passing through but a crowd followed them, surrounding them.
Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector (a Jew who collected taxes for Rome, therefore hated by his countrymen). He was rich and he was also ‘small in stature’.
Zacchaeus had heard of Jesus, and he had wanted to see Him, but the crowd was too great and too tall. Zacchaeus was a man who thought outside the box. He ran and climbed a tree from which he would have a view of Jesus as He passed that way.
Here came Jesus, closer and closer, the crowd surging around Him. Then, then Jesus looked up into that sycamore tree and said, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down’ for Jesus said that he would go to Zacchaeus’ house that very day.
Zacchaeus did not fall out of the tree, but he probably scrambled down and received Jesus gladly into his house.
Now the crowd was not all that happy, they grumbled among themselves…well! What is this world coming to? Doesn’t Jesus know that this man is a sinner? (All tax collectors were considered as sinners.)
At this point, Zacchaeus stepped up to Jesus and said, Lord, one-half of my possessions I give to the poor. If I have cheated anyone of anything I will give back four times the amount.
Zacchaeus revealed his changed thinking, his changed life and Jesus responded to this man who was ‘small in stature’ but big in his commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, “Today salvation has come to this house…”
Jesus also said, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Zacchaeus’ life was changed forever…
from being ‘lost’ to being ‘saved’ by Jesus.

Tomorrow’s devotional will continue with this true story of Zacchaeus,
and it could be your story…