Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional (Posted each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) as we continue in our Luke, Exploring Who Jesus is series.
From Luke 19:8-10, let’s reflect on how our being born again of the Spirit will always transform what we love.
You can listen to this devotional below
‘But 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. 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”’ (Luke 19:8-10)
Love shapes our lives in profound ways. One day, we’re settled into our routines—work, hobbies, or the daily grind—when a new passion disrupts everything. Suddenly, even the busiest among us find time we didn’t know we had. Consider golf in the UK: studies estimate £6–7 billion spent annually and 170–300 million hours devoted to the game. Such is the power of love—it reorders our priorities, whether for a person, a pursuit, or, as we see in Zacchaeus, a Saviour.
Zacchaeus’ story is one of radical transformation. Tax collectors of his time were notorious, often extorting excess to pad their wealth, and as agents of Rome, they were reviled as traitors to Israel. Yet Zacchaeus, like Matthew—another tax collector turned disciple—was willing to forsake financial security to follow Jesus. When Jesus declares, “Today salvation has come to this house,” we see Zacchaeus’ loves realign. Once driven by greed, he now pledges half his wealth to the poor and fourfold restitution to those he wronged. Salvation doesn’t just forgive—it reorients.
This shift fulfils Jeremiah’s prophecy, quoted in Hebrews:
“I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people” (Hebrews 8:10).
When we’re born again by the Spirit, what we cherish changes. The “lost” are found, and they begin to love what God loves. Jesus underscores this, pointing to Zacchaeus’ repentance—his actions and attitude—as evidence of true salvation. We’re not saved by our deeds, but by grace; yet, that grace inevitably bears fruit. As Paul writes in Ephesians, faith and love become markers of the redeemed:
“Ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you” (Ephesians 1:15-16).
Prayer and Reflection
Am I stewarding my resources—wealth, time, talents—to honour God and bless His people?
How is Jesus shaping me now? What lessons is He etching into my heart through His Word or my current struggles, moulding me like clay in the Potter’s hands?
Like Zacchaeus, is there a wrong I need to right, a love I need to redirect?
Let’s pause and listen, the same Spirit who transformed Zacchaeus is at work in us, seeking to align our loves with His.
Community Group Notes
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
Important notice, please be praying for our current gift days.
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week, and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together.
Balanced Time Allocation - Please ensure a balanced focus on discussion, SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite), and prayer so that each section is meaningful and fruitful.
On Sunday, we explored Luke 19:1-10, where Jesus seeks out Zacchaeus, a man considered ‘lost,’ and brings transformation to his life. Jesus' mission was to seek and save the lost, and He invites us to join Him in this mission.
Please read Luke 19:1-10 and discuss:
Personal reflection - Did God speak to you through Sunday’s message in a way that could encourage others?
Becoming a Christian – What does Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus teach us about how someone comes to faith?
Life Transformation – What changes do we see in Zacchaeus after meeting Jesus? How does this reflect the transformation that happens when someone truly follows Christ?
SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite)
Mission inspiration from the text - What does this passage reveal about Jesus’ mission and our role in it?
Share Stories – Have you had any recent experiences of Serving, Investing, or Inviting someone toward Jesus? Let’s encourage one another.
Practical Next Steps – Who is God putting on your heart to reach? Spend some time discussing and praying for those you regularly engage with, including any ‘people of peace’ in your life.
Let’s pray together:
Let’s pray for one another based on our study, and bring before God any other
Comments