PUT THIS MONEY TO WORK, Dr. Samuel Lee
THANKFUL FOR THE BASIC GRACE OF JESUS
Passage: Luke 19:1~10  
Key verse: 6
Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
19 Jesus entered Jericho(A) and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig(B) tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.(C)
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”(D)
8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord,(E) “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything,(F) I will pay back four times the amount.”(G)
9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.(H) 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”(I)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. The man who wanted to see Jesus (1-4)
Zacchaeus had reached the top. But in order to get there, he had crushed many poor people, and he had collaborated with the oppressors of his people. He was short in stature, but aggressive and able. He got what he wanted. But his success had not brought him peace or filled the emptiness in his soul. He had heard that Jesus did not despise sinners and tax collectors, and he wanted to see him. The people of Jericho showed their dislike of Zacchaeus--for no one helped him to see Jesus. So he ran ahead and climbed a tree.
2. Zacchaeus, come down immediately (5-10)
Jesus knew Zacchaeus' name and all about him. He invited himself to Zacchaeus' home. Zacchaeus welcomed him. He was thankful for Jesus' grace, and he repented. His repentance changed his life. Salvation came to his house, for he received God's love and grace by faith. He was filled with joy and thanksgiving.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving sinners like me. Help me to live as a repentant sinner, saved by your grace.
One Word: Give thanks for Jesus' grace