‘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.”’ (Luke 19:5 ESV).
Zacchaeus wasn’t a popular person. As a chief tax collector, he was despised by many, seen as a traitor and a sinner. He was small in stature and likely overlooked in more ways than one. Yet on this day, Jesus did not overlook him. Jesus sought him out. He looked up into the tree, called him by name, and invited Himself into Zacchaeus’s life. This moment wasn’t random, it was intentional. Jesus came to the exact place where Zacchaeus was and made it personal saying, “I must stay at your house today.” What grace! What pursuit! Jesus was not deterred by Zacchaeus’s reputation or limitations. He saw him, He called him, and He wanted him.
There’s deep encouragement here for all of us. No matter how unworthy we feel, whether because of our past sins, present struggles, or personal shortcomings, Jesus sees us. He seeks us out, not because we are good, but because He is gracious. Like Zacchaeus, we may climb trees of our own effort, trying to catch a glimpse of hope, not realizing that Hope Himself is already looking our way. Jesus knocks on the door of our hearts (Rev. 3:20), desiring to dwell with us. Let us respond like Zacchaeus — with joy, humility, and a willingness to open the doors of our lives. Jesus knows our name, our story, and still says, “I must stay with you.”
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for seeking us out even though we are unworthy and unable to reach You on our own. You know our names, our brokenness, and yet You still want to come into our lives. Help us to open our hearts to You with gladness. May we welcome You not just into our homes, but into every corner of our lives. Teach us to respond with joyful obedience and a desire for deeper fellowship with You. In Your name we pray, amen.