Come Home, Back to Church Sunday.
Wednesday Sept. 16, 2026
There’s a Place for You
Scripture: Luke 19:1–10
Reflection: Have you ever walked into a room and wondered if you belonged there? So, you stayed near the edge of the room and just kind of blended in. That’s where I picture Zacchaeus. He wanted to see Jesus, but he wasn’t exactly part of the crowd. In fact, most of the people in the crowd probably didn’t want him there. Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector. In the eyes of the crowd, he was a cheat and someone who had made his money by taking advantage of people. So, Zacchaeus climbs a tree. Maybe he thought he could watch Jesus from a safe distance without drawing attention to himself. He just wanted to see Jesus and go home. But then Jesus stops, looks up and He calls him by name. “Zacchaeus, come down.” I love that. He doesn’t identify Zacchaeus by his reputation, his mistakes, or what everybody else thinks about him. Jesus calls him by his name and says, I’m staying at your house today. So, Jesus doesn’t just notice Zacchaeus. Jesus makes room for him. And, of course, the religious crowd starts complaining about how Jesus is going to be the guest of a sinner. So apparently, they thought Zacchaeus wasn’t the kind of person Jesus should sit at a table with. But Jesus saw something they couldn’t see. They saw Zacchaeus’ past. Jesus saw Zacchaeus’ possibility. They saw someone who didn’t belong. Jesus saw someone worth calling by name. And that changed Zacchaeus. He stands up and says he will give half of what he owns to the poor. And if he has cheated anyone, he will pay them back four times what he took. Friends, Jesus didn’t say, “Zacchaeus, change your life, and then I’ll come to your house.” Jesus came first. Grace came first. The relationship came first. And then transformation followed. That’s something I hope we never forget. Sometimes we think people need to get their lives cleaned up before they come to church. Get things straightened out. Fix the marriage. Break the habit. Learn the Bible or learn how to pray. But Jesus didn’t tell Zacchaeus to fix himself before climbing down from the tree. He just said, “Come down. I want to be with you.” That’s grace. And if that’s how Jesus welcomed people, that’s how we should welcome people too. Somewhere around us is a Zacchaeus, watching from a distance, curious about Jesus and wondering whether there could possibly still be a place for them. Can you imagine!!!!
Consider This:
- Before Sunday, think of one person, not ten, just one. Someone who may be standing at the edge of the crowd. Pray for them. Then call them, text them, or stop by and say: “I’d love for you to come to church with me Sunday. You don’t have to come alone. Sit with me.”
- Because Jesus is still looking into trees and still calling people by name.
Prayer: Jesus,thank You for seeing people others overlook.Thank You for seeing beyond our mistakes, our labels, and our past.Thank You that Your grace doesn’t wait for us to have everything figured out.Give us Your eyes this week.Help us notice the person standing at the edge of the crowd.Give us the courage to invite someone and may every person who comes through the church doors feel seen, loved and welcomed. Amen.