“A Living Sacrifice – Zaccheus“
[By Peter Russom]

Striving to become a living sacrifice requires a complete commitment to live for Jesus. Regardless of physical and emotional obstacles, even circumstances that we have no control over, our dedication to serve the Lord in full obedience must not be hindered.

In Luke 19 we read of the account of a man named Zaccheus, a chief tax collector described as wealthy and of short stature. Due to his profession and affluence, some may have thought that Zaccheus was corrupt. We read later in the narrative that he is called a “sinner” (Vs.7) by those in the crowd. Similarly, another challenge for Zaccheus is also one that he cannot control. Due to his height, he could not see over the mass of people that had gathered to view Jesus.

He simply had to find a way to see Him. With quick thinking and the enthusiasm of a youth, Zaccheus ran ahead of the crowd and climbed a tree as Jesus approached. His deep resolve to draw near to the Lord was strong. Zaccheus would not be denied this most important opportunity.

In verse five we read, “When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house”” (NASB). What we see Zaccheus do next is an indicator of his heart and character. He did exactly what Jesus requested without hesitation and “welcomed him joyfully.” In verse eight, Zaccheus tells Jesus about his giving to the poor and how he would respond if he had defrauded anyone. And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham” (Vs. 9, NASB). This portion of scripture concludes when Jesus says, “The Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost” (Vs. 10, NASB). We all can rejoice in those wonderful words of our Savior.

This brief narrative, found in Luke 19, is full of life applications for Christians today. We learn that, like Zaccheus, we may also have to overcome circumstances, opinions of others, and even physical challenges in our obedience to Jesus. This year we have focused on Romans 12 in an ongoing study that has guided us in deepening our resolve in being well-pleasing to God, living a life of obedience, service, and love for Him.