Scripture
Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, for this man, too, is a son of Abraham.”

Observation
Jesus comes into Jericho and the crowds line the streets to see him. Amongst them is a short man called Zaccheus, a wealthy tax-collector. Unable to see over the crowds, Zaccheus climbs a tree to get a glimpse of Jesus.

When Jesus reaches the place where Zaccheus is, he comes and invites himself to Zaccheus' place. The self-righteous people grumble about Jesus eating with sinners. Zaccheus stands up and says, “Today I'm giving half of my wealth to the poor and I will repay four-fold anyone I have cheated.”

Jesus tells him that clearly salvation has come to him and that the Son of Man came to seek what was lost.

Application
Nobody is too much of a sinner for God. All it takes is an encounter with Jesus and a desire to repent.

The world says that leopards cannot change their spots, but Jesus offers us the chance to change.

A wealthy chief tax collector is changed by a short meeting with Jesus. Greed and selfishness melt away when he realises that he is loved for who he is and not what he has.

We find it convenient to put people in the “too hard” basket- they are clearly hard-hearted and beyond God's love. But how do we know until someone actually shows them what God's love looks like?

Prayer
Lord show me the people like Zaccheus in my community. Show me how to share your love with them and the good news of salvation. Amen.