And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:8-10)
The Son of God who is God the Son came to this earth to save those who recognize their need of Him and put their faith and trust in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. Zacchaeus had come to faith and gave of his worldly goods, unlike the rich young ruler previously, because he did not trust his riches to save him. He returned to those whom he had defrauded because it was meet to do so, but much more than the law required because he trusted God to provide and care for him. His faith was evident by his works, not to please God or earn his salvation, but because salvation had already come from God.
For those who have met and believed in the risen Saviour, the things which God has provided unto us are to be used for His work. That which Christians have, even the job or career we may hold, ought to be done for His glory. Those that come to Christ in surrender and repentance on His terms recognized that they must be born again to receive the salvation of God. Once saved, the children of God recognize that all that they have is His and want His will to be done with what we temporarily possess. Poverty is not a requirement for salvation nor does a lavish lifestyle necessarily reflect the blessings of God. We are not required to give half or all that we have away unless God leads us there but if we trust in Christ for all our needs we should be willing to give it unto Him. We are required to restore and reconcile with those whom we have hurt or taken from, not for our benefit or to gain favor with God, but because the God we serve has given unto us the ministry of reconciliation, not only to Him but to each other. All of this will flow out of the abundance of the heart for those who are truly His and new creatures in Christ, just as it did for Zacchaeus when Christ came unto him.
God sends those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet