TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” Luke 19:9-10
Read: Luke 19:1-10
Listen: Luke 19
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Jesus enters the town of Jericho during his ministry, and a crowd is there to meet him. A chief tax collector named Zacchaeus is in the group. The Jews view this tax collector as a sellout representing all that is wrong with the world. Tax collectors are tasked to collect taxes from the people and send it to Rome. And they have a reputation for over-collecting and preying on the people to get rich. So, Zacchaeus is likely a wealthy social outcast.
Zacchaeus seeks out Jesus and climbs a tree to see him better. Instead of scolding the tax collector for all the ways he’s hurt others, Jesus invites himself over for dinner. It’s hard to imagine how this probably shocked Zacchaeus, the crowd and maybe even the other Jesus-followers. Jesus sees, knows and wants him. Jesus longs for a relationship with Zacchaeus.
What if this is true of us too? Some hide because we are afraid others won’t want us if they really know us. But our God has demonstrated that he sees, knows and wants us. For those with a relationship with Jesus, this can encourage and drive us to greater worship and gratitude to our amazing God. For those who don’t follow Jesus, it can prompt us to pursue a relationship with him today.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Pray a prayer of invitation to God. If you’ve never invited God into your life, let him know you’d like to begin a relationship with him today. Email us at btw@adabible.org. We would love to talk with you about what it looks like to start a relationship with Jesus. If you already have a relationship with him, invite him to move in your heart and help you become more like him.
NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN
Join us this year as we read through the New Testament.
Today’s reading is Revelation 2.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
