Daily Devotional

Preparing for a guest to arrive is always revealing.  Revealing in that I notice how dusty everything in my house is!  Walking across my living room I stretch up on my tiptoes to view a layer of dust on the tall cabinet that displays my glass bottles.  These treasures I picked up in Jericho, Israel during my trips to that wondrous country.  The bottles are swirled in blues and greens and are quite lovely.  Jericho was such an interesting city to visit.  I remember the big Sycamore tree in the center of town.  My mind travels to…

Luke 19: 1-10 “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 save the lost.’

As I stretch to put a dusted bottle back, chuckling, I think to myself, “I like Zacchaeus because he is short--like me.” Zacchaeus climbed that tree, because he really wanted to see Jesus.  I am sure he was shocked when Jesus told him he was going to stay at his house.  I love Zacchaeus response: “he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.” What a delightful, amazing encounter with Jesus!  No wonder it is one of kids’ favorite Bible Stories in Sunday School!

Well, I am finished dusting off my beautiful bottles from Jericho.  It is a lot of work to entertain guests—but so worth it!   I am reminded of Hebrews 13:1,2 “Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

I am sure Zacchaeus never dreamed he would have the son of God, Jesus Christ as his house
guest!

PARENTS:

• Read the story of Zacchaeus to your kids.  They will love it!
• If you have a backyard tree, act out the story.
• Involve your kids in the preparation for house guests.  They can help with chores such as dusting, or even make fun place cards for the table.
• Inspire your kids to be hospitable.  Talk to them about why you think it is important.