The NIV 365 Day Devotional

Zacchaeus: Making Amends

A wealthy tax collector and an employee of the Roman government, Zac chaeus was looked upon as a betrayer of his own people. He may even have been supervisor of several tax collectors, exacting from his Jewish brethren not only the Roman tax, but a percentage for himself. Perhaps his small stature had over the years led to bitterness and fed his desire to get back at those who looked down on him because of his size as well as his corrupt occupation.

When Jesus and his disciples passed through Jericho, Zacchaeus could not see above the heads of the crowd. Stirred with curiosity, he climbed a large sycamore tree by the road to observe Jesus without being seen among its leaves. Imagine his shock when Jesus stopped beneath the tree, looked up at him, called him by name and invited himself over!

Touched by the Lord’s willingness to overlook his wicked reputation, the once stingy Zacchaeus promised to make amends. Jesus saw his willingness to make restitution as the evidence of Zacchaeus’s changed heart. But he also saw it as a sign of faith, calling the hated tax collector “a son of Abraham,” and welcoming him back to the fold. Although making amends on its own brings neither salva tion nor recovery, it shows that we recognize the pain we have caused others and are taking responsibility to help relieve that pain. And Jesus will be right there supporting us, just as he was with Zacchaeus.

Taken from the NIV Recovery Devotional Bible.