A Free Gift

One of the most telling accounts in Luke concerns a very short, dishonest and rich chief tax collector named Zacchaeus. He might have been all those things but he still wanted to see Yeshua, (Jesus). Unable to see above the throngs, he decided to run ahead and climb a Sycamore Fig Tree to get a glimpse of Yeshua as he passed by.

Can you imagine his surprise when Yeshua looked up and calling him by name, said for him to come down for he wanted to eat at his house that day? Well, this displeased the crowd greatly because tax collectors were counted in with sinners and traitors to the Jewish nation. They not only collected tribute for their oppressors but also added a bit more on to help line their own pockets. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector so he did such things on a much larger scale than the others in the region.

Still Zacchaeus had one thing going for him. He really wanted to see Jesus and made a strident effort to do so. Almighty God does not look at a person's outward appearance but sees the heart. Zacchaeus' heart was being drawn by the Father. I am sure He revealed this to His Son Yeshua who said:

"No man can come to me, except the Father which has sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:44

So that is why after being around Yeshua at his table, he felt ashamed and vowed to make amends for the money he stole from those he collected taxes from.

"Jesus responded, "Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham." Luke 19:9

Spending time with Jesus does that to a person! Those who really seek him have already been drawn by the Father. The gift for such faith is what Yeshua promised when he said that he would raise such ones up on the last day. Salvation came to Zacchaeus' house that day because of:
1. His FAITH

2. His repentant spirit

3. His willingness to act to conform his life to God's standards as taught by Yeshua

4. God's free GIFT of salvation is by grace not by works

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for drawing me to You through the blood of Yeshua. I believe that his finished work is enough to credit the gift of salvation to me, a true spiritual daughter of Abraham. In Yeshua's Faith, Amen.