"TRUST ME!!"

Luke 19:2-10                     (ESV)
"2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and WAS RICH.
3 And he was seeking to see who JESUS was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature.
4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.
5 And when JESUS came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today."
6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.
7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, "HE has gone in to be the guest of a man who is "A SINNER"."
8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, LORD, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold."
9 And JESUS said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."



One of the most commonly referred to events of the Bible for children is the story of Zacchaeuss.   In the story JESUS communes with "A SINNER", even going to his house for a visit!  The establishment JEWS and others remarked that JESUS was stooping so low as to go to a tax collectors house to visit with him.  Why would the Son of GOD debase HIMSELF so?

Zacchaeuss was more than emotionally moved by JESUS.  In verse 8 Zacchaeuss called JESUS "LORD"!  Zacchaeuss was recognizing JESUS as LORD of his life.  His life was never to be the same.   And was all he had to do was go home?  Did he HAVE to give half of all his goods to the poor?  Did he have to restore four-fold the ones had defrauded?  No, Zacchaeuss' heart had been changed and the restorative deeds were a reflection of the heart change.

Many know I frequently read three well-known authors.  Dr. Tony Evans, Dr. Charles Stanley and Max Lucado send out devotionals regularly.  Recently Max Lucado sent this little tidbit, "Religion says "Try harder".  JESUS says "TRUST ME"!  All Zacchaeuss had to do was trust that JESUS was the Son if GOD and let JESUS change his life.  He didn't have to build monuments or offer sacrifices for the LORD!  All he had to do was TRUST JESUS!

The enemy relishes in getting us so caught up in doing so-called works for the Kingdom.   If the enemy can keep us so busy with THINGS, then our minds are not focused on OUR SAVIOUR!  Instead, we should be trusting and worshipping the KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS!  The other THINGS will take care of themselves.  We don't need to TRY HARDER!  JESUS says "TRUST ME"!!!