Grace and a Pledge

7All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “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.”

9Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19) 

Thoughts: The grace of God is not fair by regular human standards.  Regular human standards say that God only helps those who help themselves.  But fortunately for us, when we mess up, or are unable to help ourselves- even by circumstances beyond our control- God still helps.  The poor people that Zacchaeus taxed could not help but be taxed.  They also could not help that Zacchaeus converted and decided to give money back to them.  All the people thought Jesus was doing wrong by going to a sinner.  But if Jesus never went to sinners, none of us would be saved from our sin.  God recognizes grace is necessary even when we do not see the need for grace. 
     Jesus said that salvation had come to his house.  This happened in two sense: 1) Zacchaeus had changed.  He showed his change in concrete ways when he met Jesus- he made a pledge.  The pledge was to give to the poor and make restitution for his wrong.  Pledging such things is a sign of a good- god influenced heart.  2) The play on words- Salvation came to his house- but what house?  The same house that Jesus came into.  So salvation- Jesus- came into Zacchaeus.  Jesus is the Savior.  When He comes to us- and we let Him in- salvation comes to us.  We show this by a change of intentions- indicated by a pledge of good will.  

Thoughts: Lord, thank you for your grace- your salvation- that comes to me.  Help me to renew my intentions and my love for you in response to your love.