Scripture to Read: Luke 19:8
When anyone has a true encounter with Jesus, fully realizes He is God, and surrenders to Him as Lord and Savior, there will be evidence of a changed life. As God had Luke continue to write, we read in Luke 19:8, “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.’” Remember, the people in the crowd were grumbling that Jesus was going to be a guest in Zacchaeus’ house. But Zacchaeus, even before they reached his house, stopped, turned to Jesus, and told Him that he was giving half of his wealth to the poor and that if he had robbed anyone, he would pay them back four times as much as he had stolen. WOW!!! That is a changed heart and life. God is not interested in empty confessions, empty promises, and half-hearted commitments that are never followed through on. Even when people seem to do good, if they have not fully surrendered to Christ as Lord, their seeming good deeds are nothing but a waste of time. Jesus even gave the warning in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” Calling Jesus Lord does not mean He is your Lord. But when our lives are changed by Him, we will desire to obey Him, and the evidence of our changed lives becomes obvious to all.
Challenge & Application
What changed about Zaccheus?
How have you seen the changes in your life since surrendering to Christ as Lord?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!