The Super Bowl was played last night;it’s where the two best football teams come together to see who will be numberone. It’s a big thing with companies spending an average of $3.5 millionfor 30-second commercials. Now if you wanted to go to the Super Bowl andbe there in person then you better have plenty of cash. The cheapest seatin the stadium was priced at $2,098. There are numerous nosebleedlistings in the $2300-$2400 range. The most expensive ticket listing is a$608,475. Like I said it was big. Well, that’s all good and fine but Iwant to write about little things. Little things are often overlooked becausethey are little and we may be too busy looking for Super Bowl big. The littleprayers moved Jesus “Lord remember Me,” “Lord Save Me’” “Lord what would youhave me to do?.” Do you not agree those little prayers moved Him? There was alittle man by the name of Zacchaeus. I know you remember him; he ran andclimbed into a sycamore tree just so he could see Jesus when He passed by.Zacchaeus had become successful in life and had become a rich man but the sadthing is that he had never met Jesus. As everyone looked at Zacchaeus they mayhave thought “now there’s a man who has it made, he’s got it all.” Zacchaeusmay have had everything this world could afford him but he didn’t have the onething that he needed that would make him happy and that was Jesus. Then therecame a day of opportunity, Jesus was in town Zacchaeus being little would haveto elevate himself to get above the crowd so he climbs into a sycamore tree. AsJesus came to that Sycamore tree He stops and He looks up and there isZacchaeus.
Luk 19:5 And when Jesus came to theplace, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, andcome down; for today I must abide at thy house.
I think if I looked up and sawsomeone in a tree I think the first words from my mouth would have been “whatare you doing up there.” That’s not what Jesus said He told Zacchaeus to getout of that tree for He was going to abide at his house today.
Luk 19:6 And he made haste, andcame down, and received him joyfully. Here’s the keyZacchaeus got out of that tree and made haste and received Jesus joyfully. It’sa wonderful thing when Jesus comes and knocks at your hearts door and you openit and let Him come in. Like an old friend who comes by to see you, they knockat your door and you open it up and they come in. When one receives Jesus thatperson changes; listen to what Zacchaeus had to say.
Luk 19:8 And Zacchaeus stood, andsaid unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; andif I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. All a sudden that whichmay have been so important he is willing to give away.
Luk 19:9 And Jesus said unto him,This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son ofAbraham.
Salvation didn’t come becauseZacchaeus was willing to give half his good to the poor. No, salvation camebecause Zacchaeus received Jesus and then Zacchaeus joyfully gave what he hadaway. Jesus will change the way you think and your actions will be different.The time clock is ticking, each day that passes by brings you and I closer tothe day of our death and the question is have we received Jesus? There is stilltime, if you have read this far you may be up in the sycamore tree looking downand Jesus is about to pass your way don’t miss HIM!
