JRDUNN led us in worship this morning at FB.PLV. The Holy Spirit took me back to my days of working with children, raising our children, and leading me along the path of purpose found in the Son of Man who came to seek and save; simple fact!

Zacchaeus was a little wealthy, a little man, and a lot lost. Nevertheless, his Spirit had been touched with the expectation of seeing this man they called Jesus. If you grew up in church, you know this story and most likely remember this song, at least the first verse.

Zaccheus was a wee little man, and a wee, little man was he. He climbed up in a sycamore tree for the Lord he wanted to see. And as the Savior came that way, He looked up in the tree and said, "Zacchaeus, you come down," For I'm going to your house today. For I'm going to your house today.

Zacchaeus knew that he'd done wrong and was sorry for his sins indeed. To the poor, I'll give one-half of all my goods, said he. And if I've cheated anyone four times, will I repay. And Jesus said, "Salvation has come to you." I come to seek and save. I come to seek and save.

Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he. He had seen the Lord that day, and Salvation was received. As he stood tall and waved goodbye, he knew that he was changed. And Jesus said, "Zacchaeus, you tell everyone you saw me today!" And a very happy man was he. And a very happy man was he.

I love that Jesus looked to see Zacchaeus. Jesus called out to him, just like he called out to us. Everyone witnessed what happened. Jesus comes to the sinner. He is still in the miracle performance arts business. No soul is beyond the grasp of His grace; we are His great love!

God, through Zacchaeus, shows us how it's done, his Salvation experience. We are born to die, but through  Salvation, we are born again to everlasting life in the presence of Light.

Once we are saved, then what?

If we want to make an impact with our voices and our lives, then we must share how Jesus saved us from the darkness called Hades, the permanent grave. Our transformation must be evident to others. Our actions must be inclusive, honest, and trustworthy. 

"Let the world see Jesus in us united as one, under God, with peace, hope, and love for all mankind."

Luke 19:1-10

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”