StorytellerSample

Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector in Jericho, working for the Roman government to collect taxes on their behalf. His arrangement with the Roman government was that he collected more than his people owed to pay his salary. Even though he got his money in a shady way, Zacchaeus was rich. Jesus came to Jericho one day, and Zacchaeus got in a tree to see Him. Jesus saw Zacchaeus and asked him to come to his house for dinner. At the time, that invitation would have been shocking! Someone like Jesus would have never been associated with a guy like Zacchaeus. But He did, and something in Jesus changed Zacchaeus. He exclaimed: “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount” (Luke 19:8 NIV). The sad reality was that there had always been poor people around Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus’ wealth was growing, and growing, and growing, right amid the poverty around him. But when Jesus changed his heart, he changed how he treated those around him.

That’s what happens when we realize we’re accepted and forgiven. Our hearts grow. Our love deepens. We want to be like Jesus. So, stand in your forgiveness as God’s child. Stand in His great love for you and let it change how you treat others.