"And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully" (Luke 19:1-6).
Zach had an encounter with Jesus that changed his life. Why did Zach receive the blessing of having Jesus as a guest in his home? Zach wanted to see Jesus so bad that he climbed up into a sycomore tree because he was too short to see over the crowd. When Jesus saw him up there he blessed his determination with more then Zach expected. Jesus said, "Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house" (v.5). Are you seeking Jesus with all your heart? “But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul” (Deut. 4:29). Zach's earnest seeking resulted in an intimate life changing encounter with Jesus. Seek and you will find also.
Notice also what Jesus said in answer to the religious crowd, who criticized Him for being in Zach’s home: "And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:7-10).
Here we learn that the reason Zach sought to see Jesus was because Jesus sought Him first. Jesus was drawing Zach to himself and Zach responded. Zach didn’t just wake up one day and decide that he was going to seek Jesus. Jesus was revealing himself to him in ways that are not recorded. And Zach responded to whatever light that he was given. When we respond to the light that God gives us He gives us more light. Some Christians are not receiving more direction—more light to direct their lives, because they’ve not obeyed what God has already reveled to them. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5). Seek and you will find.
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Psalms 1:1-3
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