Luke 19:6

ZACCHÆUS AND CHRIST

‘And (Zacchæus) made haste, and came down, and received Him joyfully.’

Luke 19:6

When Christ was upon earth He dealt with every one severally in such a way as to promote in every one a growing and increasing devotion to His will. In the story of Zacchæus we see one who made a glad response to the demand that the Lord laid upon him. He added himself to the company of Jesus Christ.

I. We cannot postpone decision in spiritual things. The command is, ‘Make haste, to-day I must abideatthy house.’ May we humble ourselves to embrace His rule and His sovereignty readily and joyfully!

II. But we must count the cost.—The coming of Jesus to Zacchæus compelled a re-statement of his life. To accept Christ rightfully we must prepare ourselves for a re-ordering of our lives and a necessary disciplining of our characters. There must be a total surrender of self to the lordship of Jesus Christ.

III. Yet there must be no reluctance in the Christian life, but a great gladness. No loss can be thought of as loss when He has come to us.

—Rev. John Wakeford.

Illustration

‘It is precisely at the point mentioned in the text that the conversion of Zacchæus seems to have taken place. The unexpected condescension of such a famous teacher of religion, in offering to be a publican’s guest, was made the means by which the Spirit changed his heart. Nothing is so frequently found to turn the hearts of great sinners as the unexpected and undeserved tidings that Christ loves them and cares for their souls. These tidings have often broken and melted hearts of stone.’