When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” And he hurried and came down and received Him rejoicing. Luke 19:5-6.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
Everything in the Bible yields treasure. It is filled with gracious Words that come from Me. And now I speak to you through My Son.
His mouth is all sweetness, He is altogether lovely. This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend, O daughters of Jerusalem! Song of Songs 5:16.
And of His fullness you have all received, grace on top of grace.
And My Son spoke with authority and not like the scribes. Words of power and life came from His mouth. Even the temple guards could not arrest him when sent to do so, they said that there was never a man spoke like Jesus. His Words are beautiful.
And yet the majority of the Sanhedrin rejected Jesus and did not want to hear His Words. Why? They turned deaf ears to Him.
For the heart of this people has become dull, With their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes, otherwise they would see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return, and I would heal them. Matthew 13:15.’
They had hard hearts. A hard heart cannot hear. It does not discern beautiful Words of grace, it makes fun of them, it scorns them.
A hearing heart. Generous love. Put your heart in the Heart of Jesus and it will become a hearing heart filled with generous love. When you believe in Him, you are in Him. Clothed in Christ.
Jesus looked at those who needed help—the sinners, the lame, the sick, the depressed, the lost—with compassion, seeing them as sheep without a shepherd and healed them all who came in faith.
Do you know what the most important thing is that you do all day? I have told you of it in the Bible since the beginning. Have you noticed what it is? The most important thing you do in your day is meet with Me. Adam and Eve met with Me every day in the cool time of the evening in the Garden. Enoch walked with Me and walked right into eternity without dying. Noah met with Me and built an ark that saved the human race. Moses met with Me every day in the tent of the meeting and led a people out of slavery to the Promised Land.
Remember the tax collector Zacchaeus? When Jesus made an appointment with him for the day, he immediately came down from the tree and made that his number one priority for the day. And he came with joy. And talking with Jesus changed his life forever. One personal one-to-one meeting with Jesus changes everything in your life. It turned Zacchaeus into a man with a hearing heart filled with generous love. It changed the entire course and direction of his life.
What if he had been too busy for the appointment?
My Son came to seek out and save what was lost. But if you read the account of Zacchaeus you will find that Zacchaeus was seeking to see who Jesus was. Luke 19:3. Jesus was seeking him, but Zacchaeus was seeking Jesus before he knew Jesus was seeking him. He had a heart to see Jesus. He was looking for Me but I was looking for him long before he looked for Me. But the moment he looked I sent My Son to stay at his house.
I am the rewarder of those who seek Me. Hebrews 11:6.
The moment you seek Me, I run to you. Remember the father in the prodigal son story? He always wanted the son home, but he did not run to him until he returned to seek his father. Selah.
There was a crowd around Jesus as He approached and began to pass through Jericho where Zacchaeus lived. But even though there was a crowd, Jesus saw Zacchaeus. I never see crowds, I only see individuals. Every person is important to Me and I know everyone by name. There is no one I am not focused on, and I am especially focused on you. All the time. I never slumber or sleep.
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich. Zacchaeus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, for He was about to pass through that way.
When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “ Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” And he hurried and came down and received Him rejoicing. When they saw it, the people all began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:1-10.
Zacchaeus was chief tax collector. He was rich because of cheating. He was of short stature—challenged in his height. You have all come short of glory of God. But the good news is that now you who are in Christ have been justified by His blood, are sanctified by My Word, and will receive a glorified body on the last day. You will never die, Jesus died and rose and never will die again. And as He is so are you in this world. You will depart to a better existence than you have now but you will never die.
Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree. Jesus came to the place under the tree where Zacchaeus was and looked up and saw him. And even though Zacchaeus thought that Jesus was oblivious of him, Jesus looked up at him and called him by name, “Zacchaeus.”
Jesus stopped everything else and stopped looking at anyone else to give all His attention to one social outcast that none of the “holy” people would spend time with.
To Me, there is no one else but you.
That nearly made Zacchaeus fall out of the tree. He thought he was hidden but Jesus was looking for him.
And then Jesus told Zacchaeus to come down quickly, with haste. This is the only time in the Gospels that Jesus tells someone to hurry. Hurry and come down.
Jesus always had time but here He tells Zacchaeus to hurry. He was there to bring salvation. Hurry when it has to do with your salvation. When it comes to salvation you do not put it off.
Now is the acceptable time, today is the day is salvation.
And after Jesus came to his house, Zacchaeus stood before accusations from the crowd that he was a sinner and declared to My Son that he was going to immediately give half of his possessions to the poor and pay everyone back four times over that he had cheated. Luke 19:8. He did not cower or hide, he knew that Jesus had sought him out to stay at his house while he was a sinner. He knew that I accepted him, loved him and knew him when he was a sinner. And what was the result? The result was that without My telling him to do so, he kept the law voluntarily. Exodus 22:1; 2 Samuel 12:6. And he went farther, he gave half of what he owned to the poor. He had fallen in love with Me through Jesus. He had tasted and seen that I am good and he wanted to do all in his power to show his love for Me.
Grace is more powerful to produce right living than the law. Grace transforms people. The law does not. You cannot transform by demanding. Grace empowers you to live right, to live generously.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. Titus 211-14.
Grace fulfills the law. Grace is My divine life pouring into you, like a branch attached to a vine—full of sap and very green.
Wherever Jesus is there is prosperity. When you preach Jesus health reigns and prosperity comes.
And Jesus said that salvation had come to the house of Zacchaeus (the name Jesus, which is Yeshuah means salvation, so it was true in many ways), because he also is a son of Abraham.
There are only two people in Bible Jesus calls son and daughter of Abraham. Zacchaeus and woman bent over in the synagogue that He healed on the Sabbath day. Those of faith, those who believe, are children of Abraham.
Jesus stays at the house of sons of Abraham. Those of faith.
Why did Zacchaeus and the bent woman get Jesus’ attention and others who were physical descendants of Abraham did not? Because the true sons and daughters of Abraham are who believe in Jesus.
Salvation is Jesus’ name and today salvation came to your house.
Everything in Bible yields treasure. Gracious Words that came from His mouth. Never a man spoke like this man. Even His Words are beautiful.
Make haste. It is urgent and pressing. And come down. It is humbling.
The events in Bible are placed by Holy Spirit. Before Zacchaeus, you see Jesus healing the blind Bartimaeus. The people told Bartimaeus to rise up to go to Jesus for He had called for him. But Zacchaeus had to come down. The poor beggar had to rise and the rich man had to come down to be saved, for all are on the same level before Jesus. Equal ground—bring up the valley and bring down the mountain. Every mountain leveled and every valley lifted up, for you all are on the same ground with Jesus and you all receive My righteousness in Him. You are all kings and priests when you come to Him by His righteousness which is My gift to you in Him.
Salvation is there for you. And in Jesus you are sons and daughters of Abraham by your faith. I have a Covenant with you and it is My obligation to keep it forever. I bind Myself to you forever in Jesus for I made the New Covenant with Him as your representative and He will never break it. So you cannot either. You can rest in that. I have sealed you in Him when you believe, Ephesians 1:13, and all I have given Him I have commanded Him to raise on the Last Day. John 6:38-40. And He will for He came to do My Will. And I am faithful and I will do it.
Many are called but not all accept to go to the appointment to meet with Me.
Make sure you keep the appointment- Divine visitation. Israel failed to recognize the visitation and lost all. But I have called again.
Every day Adam and Eve had an appointment with Me. But one day they did not keep it. They hid from Me. And that was the day their lives went into corruption and death.
You need to keep your appointment with Me every day. And I mean where we meet one-to-one.
I said that under the New Covenant you would all know Me from the least to the greatest. The door to My throne is open to all. The veil is torn and the Holy of Holies is open to you. Will you not come? Are you too busy to be with the One who made all and can do all?
Enoch walked with Me. Noah did too. And you can too.
When you go to your room and meet with Me in private, I will speak to your heart and open the door of hope in the valley of trouble and you will sing again as you did in your youth.
Keep your appointment with Me every day. Set a time to meet and then do not miss it even one day because you are too busy. Seek My Kingdom first and all the rest is added to you.
When you take time to meet with Me, you will be more productive because you will know where your place is and what you are to do. Zaccheus came out of the day with My Son knowing just what he was to do and he carried it out with joy. My plan for you will give you great joy and it will benefit all.
I showed Moses, alone with him on Mt. Sinai, the plans for the mischan (tabernacle, tent of meeting) and the ark of the covenant and all the other furnishings, tapestries, anointing oils, and vestments in full detail. Later I gave David the plans for the temple Solomon would build in full detail during his time with Me in prayer. Daniel kept appointments with Me daily (he got arrested for that and thrown in the lion’s den but I delivered him) and I gave him great revelations and wise guidance for counseling the kings in running their kingdoms where he resided.
Let Me speak to your heart and give you the plans that I made for you since before the foundation of the world. Speak to Me about all your projects. When you entrust your works to Me your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3.
You are Mine. We belong together. I made you, I know you, and I love you with an everlasting love.
Come. Let Me speak in your heart. Make the appointment, set a time each day. And when you come, first quiet yourself by worship before Me. Sing a song of praise. Just sing to Me and lift your heart to Me. Let the many worries and cares slip away for a while as you come into My presence with joyful singing and shouting. Next, cast your cares on Me because I care for you. Your concerns are Mine. Let Me take your burdens and fight your battles. Tell Me what is on your heart. Next, read the Bible. I will show you treasures in My Word that are meant just for you. Yes, they are there just when you need them for your situation. I will speak to your heart through My written Words. And then let Me talk to you and write down in your notebook or tablet what you hear in your heart. And you will hear My voice. And it will change your life.
And it all starts with beautiful thoughts. Your heart cannot hear if you are not thinking beautiful thoughts because if you are thinking ugly, bitter, distressed, anxious, and resentful thoughts then your heart is too hard to hear.
A hearing heart is a thankful heart, a tender heart, a living heart, and a humble heart. That is why Zaccheus could hear. He was looking for Jesus. He wanted to change his life to something better and more fruitful. That is why the Pharisees could not hear but the sinners could.
The more beautiful you direct and purposefully think the more you will hear from Me. For how can two walk together unless they agree? Adam and Eve no longer walked with Me each day once they did not agree with My Word.
Here are a few tips for thinking beautiful thoughts:
Begin to see your life and all that you have as a treasure given to you by Me. Value it. Speak to yourself of it as beautiful and perfect. Say in your heart what a treasure your siblings are, or your parents are, or your spouse is, or your co-workers or fellow students are, try this and you will find you look at them in a whole new way. Everything I made I gave you to richly enjoy. See things that way. Look at the mountains, the blue skies, the ocean, the lakes and rivers, the trees, the birds, the flowers as all made for you to brighten your day. And thank Me for the beautiful things you see. For the colors, for the breeze, for people.
Make an appointment to come to Me each day. Designate a place in your house or apartment, a chair where you sit to spend time with Me or an area you walk around in. And then look forward to your appointment and what I will speak in your heart. And I will speak. My sheep hear My voice. I draw you and speak to your heart. If you come seeking Me as Zacchaeus did I will come to spend time with you alone.
David knew this. He sang to Me that when he was with Me the earth delighted him not. He said My lovingkindness was better than life itself and his songs of joy could no more be withheld. In the shadow of My wings he sang for joy and of My delightful stream I gave him to drink. He declared that he lived in My house forever.
In your time with Me you touch the Holy One and I touch you. You will never be the same.
Do not be too busy to come. Do not hide from Me as Adam and Eve did. I already know all about you and I still knock at the door of your heart asking for an appointment to meet with you. Will you not put Me on your agenda as having first priority?
You will never be the same. No follower of Mine will ever walk in darkness but will have the Light of Life. Come walk with Me so I can light your path brighter each day.
Let Me tell you great and mighty things you could not know. Your souls will find rest, for My yoke is easy and My burden light.
I cannot wait to tell you so many things. Would you be willing to hear them?
I love you. Come. Just Come to Me. And that is where exciting times begin. Together we will walk to your destiny. And that was what happened for Zaccheus. He came and the result he got was amazing.