Worth the Climb

Then Jesus entered and walked through Jericho. There was a man there, his name Zacchaeus, the head tax man and quite rich. 3He wanted desperately to see Jesus, but the crowd was in his way, he was a short man and couldn’t see over the crowd. 4So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when he came by. 5When Jesus got to the tree, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down. Today is my day to be a guest in your home.” Zacchaeus scrambled out of the tree, hardly believing his good fortune, delighted to take Jesus home with him. Luke 19:2-6 MSGYou can’t choose to be god and hope to see God.Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8 ESV Lackadaisical doesn’t really get you close to God, but any honest effort does. Zacchaeus scrambled out of the tree, hardly believing his good fortune, delighted to take Jesus home with him. Luke 19:6 MSG If you take Jesus home with you, your life will never be the same!Learning to delight in the Lord is the way to leave lack behind. (Ps. 23)Everyone who saw the incident was indignant and grumped, “What business does he have getting cozy with this crook?” Zacchaeus just stood there, a little stunned. He stammered apologetically, “Master, I give away half my income to the poor—and if I’m caught cheating, I pay four times the damages.” Luke 19:7-8 MSGThe impact of a genuine encounter with Jesus is simultaneously significant and impossible to quantify.Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 19:9-10 NLTJesus went through the cross to clear the way so all could to come to Him!