Today's Devotional brought to you by prayer warrior Michelle Simpson

Luke 19:1-10

New King James Version (NKJV)

Jesus Comes to Zacchaeus’ House

19 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. ² Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. ³ And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. ⁴ So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. ⁵ And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him,^[a] and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” ⁶ So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. ⁷ But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”

⁸ Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”
⁹ And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; ¹⁰ for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Zacchaeus was seeking Jesus. He was willing to do whatever it took to be able to just catch a glimpse of Jesus. But don't miss the fact that Jesus was seeking Zacchaeus before Zacchaeus began looking for Him. When the religious people of the day heard that Jesus would be dining at the house of a sinner, a tax collector and a cheat, they grumpled and complained. Jesus did not see Zacchaeus as the worl saw him. He saw a precious child of God, someone worth saving. That is how He sees you as well Beloved! Jesus assured them this was why He came "to seek and save the lost." He is reaching for you right where you are. Saint or sinner God loves you and is reaching down to touch your life. Are you willing to reach up and take His hand?

Father, Creator, Comforter, Keeper, thank You for loving me so much that You reach down into the darkness to touch my life with Your love! Give me the courage and the strength to reach up and take Your hand! Help me also to reach out to my fellow man with Your hand of friendship and love. Help me to see my brother and sister as You see them and to love them as You love them. In Jesus precious and holy name, amen.

Check out the video God is There by Diamond Rio on God Tube!