Pam Padgett ... teacher
Luke 19:1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 And,
behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the
publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and
could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4 And he ran
before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to
pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw
him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to
day I must abide at thy house. 6 And he made haste, and came down, and
received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all murmured,
saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 8 And
Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my
goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by
false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9 And Jesus said
unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he
also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to
save that which was lost.
Zacchaeus was someone others looked down on because he was chief among the publicans. They murmured when they saw Jesus stop and talk with Zacchaeus and go to his house. But Jesus knew that Zacchaeus was chosen by God, saying he also is a son of Abraham.
I was reminded that the Lord knows those who are His ...
2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the
foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them
that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart
from iniquity.
... and that, regardless of what we were like before we were born again, God knows those who are His, chose us, and called us to be His children, conformed to the image of Jesus ...
Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he
also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he
might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did
predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also
justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
None of us were worthy to be chosen by God (Romans 3:11-12).
But when God sent His Word to us, calling us, we were
changed, born again and given the Holy Spirit, showing us our sins,
leading us in the ways of God, conforming us to the image of
Jesus. And throughout our lives, we are continually changed as the Holy Spirit works in our lives by the word of God, continually conformed to His word, because we have been chosen by God.