“He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 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. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”’ (Luke 19:1-20)
Who is like this Jesus, really, who comes down to street level to seek out the lost? Jesus comes down so low that a short man at his wit’s end can climb a tree and find him. And He stoops so low in His mercy to sinners that the so-called righteous people can look down on him too!
I like the way Rich Mullins puts it:
There is a wideness in God’s mercy I cannot find in my own
And He keeps his fire burning to melt this heart of stone
Keeps me aching with a yearning, keeps me glad to have been caught
In the reckless raging fury That they call the love of God
God loves you that way, dear friends. He wants to be found by you! He is speaking to us even now as to Zacchaeus. And we can receive Him joyfully today!
🙏🏼