Luke 19:1-10 KJV
1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
8 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.
9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

This is one story that never grows old, and yet if you began your life in church at age one to three you know full well this story is repeated almost yearly at least into teen years. Why because it is a favorite story among the young and old alike. It the one time the short guy wins. It also the story of the tax collector who recognizes his sin to the point he repays everyone back.

Zaccheus was a tiny man that climbs a Sycamore tree to see Jesus because reporters were pressed in around him. Zaccheus shunned by the world because sin, because of job title and because he was short. Jesus looked up and seen Zaccheus and asked what he was doing up in that tree because he was going to his house that day. The one least likely to have Jesus going to his house was in the lime light of the reporters listening with the crowd. Jesus spoke to this taxcollector and he came out of the tree so fast as to say I am honor for you to come to my house. Yet the crowd murmured and said he is a filthy sinner, why you dine with him. I give half my goods to the poor and repay anyone I am accused of taking from, I will repay four fold. Jesus said salvation has come to thy house. The son of man came to seek and save the lost.

Where is salvation, is it in the food we need to eat, or the mistakes confessed and promise to repay, or is it in the fact Zaccheus heart door was open wide to receive Jesus. Upon knowing Jesus was coming to his house, he began to clean his life up. He turn away from sin. By doing so he repented. One of the first steps of a new believer is not just confession but turning away from sin. Jesus was and is a Savior who accepts us right where we are. Well you receive him as you are. Well you allow him to come into your heart in the filth of your home, so a clean sweep can be made by his love and no condemnation. The condemned Zaccheus that day but Jesus received him with compassion. It cause Zaccheus to repent and be forgiven. Jesus did not come to condemn but to save those that were lost. Why then did the people condemn, it is the way of society, but they have no right when their feet in a muddle puddle.

Dear Heavenly Father, open our hearts to give love and not condemnation to the world. To love as Jesus did to those in search of him. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: John 3:16-18 KJV
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.