Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek
26 April 2025
Reading From Luke 19:1-27
“All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
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.”
Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
—Luke 19:7-10
Our Lord was continually blurring the lines between “sinners” and “religious people.” He sees potential in every human being to become a son or daughter of the Father if they are willing to choose faith and surrender to His will. Religious people who have become insular in their lifestyles to the exclusion of those who have made choices that they don’t approve of tend to lose sight of this potential. The Bible says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.[1] This means that regardless of our backgrounds and perceived trajectories, each of us have a need for the salvation only provided in Jesus.
God sees past the pretense, past the self-medicating, past the facades and anything else we might use to shut people out. He is able to disarm us with His love in a way no one else can. He loves me just as I am and is willing to meet me where I’m at, wash me clean from my sin, clothe me in His righteousness provided for me at the cross, and begins to teach me a new way of life filled with freedom, healing, power, and hope. I leave my old self behind and relinquish my insistence on having my own way so that He can have His wonderful way in my life.
When some people feel God’s call to dedicate their lives to Him, they take a vow of poverty and give up all money and possessions in order to follow Him. I do not see this in Scripture as something that God requires of everyone. What I do see is the guidance of the Holy Spirit in every person’s life. Some He leads to sell all that they have, others He leads to give portions just as Zacchaeus did. He gave half of his wealth and the Lord was pleased. It would not be sustainable for the work of the ministry if everyone gave up everything. Instead, we should simply do as the Lord leads each of us and rejoice as we share our abundance.
“Lord Jesus, thank You for all that You have blessed Your children with. I pray that we would give generously to the work of Your ministry upon the Earth. As we care for the poor and brokenhearted, may we be reminded that You are our source for everything. You give us what we need for life and godliness and we are grateful for You and Your provision. Thank You Jesus. Amen.”
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will repay him for his deed.
—Proverbs 19:17
[1] Romans 3:23
Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God 
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