Luke labels Zacchaeus as a short, rich, chief tax collector. The crowd labels Zacchaeus as a sinner. Jesus calls him by his name. Jesus seems to have been sent specifically to Zacchaeus. Jesus calls him by name and says that He must stay at his house.

Why does God respond to Zacchaeus? He was seeking.

The Scripture says he was seeking to see who Jesus was. There must have been more than curiosity in his heart. He must have really wanted to know who this Jesus was.

God knows your heart. He will respond to it. Ask Him to put the right things in there.

Jesus pronounces that salvation had come to Zacchaeus’ house. Zacchaeus didn’t make a profession of faith in Jesus as the Son of God. He didn’t say a prayer asking for forgiveness.

What Zacchaeus did was have a change of heart. He repented. Not in word, but in deed. He entered into a new life. The old was gone. The new had come.

Zacchaeus became a good and faithful servant with what the Lord had given him.

The first step is to realize everything you have you’ve been given. You don’t deserve any of it. You deserve wrath. You acknowledge God in what you have and thank Him for it. Then you offer it to Him for His work.

That’s not just money. It’s everything. Your time and attention and energy belong to the Lord too.

In the parable of the master giving money to servants, they are commended for being faithful with what they had been given. It multiplied. The way we multiply is by producing fruit. But we don’t produce fruit; God gives the increase. The only way is by offering yourself to God to produce fruit through you.

If you want more from God, give up everything.

The man with the colt readily gives his donkey to the Lord’s use. Give everything for His use.

When the people see Jesus, they respond with praise and rejoicing. That’s our continual posture before the Lord because we always see Him. We keep Him set before us. He’s what makes peace in our lives, so hang on His every word. Then your label will be “faithful.”