12/25/2020
A Gift for Everyone
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God
─ Ephesians 2:8 ESV
A Gift for Everyone
Have you ever believed the lie that your past is so bad, not even God could love you and forgive you? Most of the community in Jesus’ day believed that about a rich, tax collector named Zacchaeus (Luke 19:2).
Tax collectors served the Roman Empire, with broad authority to prosecute anyone who did not pay, as well as the ability to force citizens to pay even more than what they really owed. Zacchaeus had accumulated large amounts of illegitimate wealth. His fellow Jews saw him as a thief and a traitor.
But Jesus called Zacchaeus by name and invited himself to his home. The people with Jesus were appalled that Jesus would go to the home of a sinner. It was very counterculture for Jesus’ day, yet He paid no attention to their comments, and extended the gift of salvation, demonstrating that salvation cannot be earned or bought, but a gift given freely from God.
Ephesians 2:8 says, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.”
When Zacchaeus met Jesus, he said, “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).
Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:9-10 NIV).
No matter what you’ve said or done; no matter where you’ve found yourself in life or where you come from – salvation is available to you. God desires a relationship with you, and that’s why Jesus came, endured the cross and rose again.
Today’s One Thing
If you don’t know Jesus, or haven’t walked with Him in a long time, ask Him to come into your heart right now. If you know Jesus, but sometimes feel unworthy of His love and forgiveness, accept His gift today.