And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must abide at thy house. Luke 19:5
Just pretend for a few seconds, that as you are getting things ready for the day, that the doorbell rings. You go to the door and find, standing on your doorstep, the Lord Jesus. He smiles and informs you that he has come to spend a few quiet hours visiting with you. What do you do? How do you approach this situation? Do you start wondering if your house is acceptable for your honoured Guest? Do you start wondering whatever will you serve Him for lunch, what He takes in His coffee, whether He will find things in your house that He does not approve of? Maybe you would realize that this is a major interruption in what what you had planned for the day. All sorts of thoughts and questions arise, and you would, for a few moments anyway, be entirely flustered and at a loss for words. In actuality, the Lord Jesus is visiting your house today, just as surely as He visited Zacchaeus’ house that day in Jericho.
We are told in the next verse that Zacchaeus received the Lord Jesus joyfully. He was fairly jumping up and down with delight that Jesus was coming to his house. It didn’t matter whether the beds were made or the dusting done; it didn’t matter what was on the menu for lunch or how full the larder was; it didn’t matter if the record books that showed his shady financial dealings was in plain sight on the kitchen table. The Lord Jesus was going to be with him for the day and that was all that mattered. It should be all that matters to us.
Nothing should be more important in our homes today than that the Lord Jesus is here, that His Word is at hand to be read and enjoyed, that His ear is open to hear our prayers and praises, that He knows all about everything we have and do and loves us anyway.
Zacchaeus’ house was different that day. He would forever remember that joyous occasion when Jesus spent the day with Him. Open your heart and life today to enjoy the presence of the Lord Jesus with you. What a wonderful day you will have! -Jim MacIntosh