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  document.writeln("<span class=\"body\"><b><span class=\"headings2\"><span class=\"actsititle\">Beautiful Messes: Zacchaeus </span></span></b><br>");
  document.writeln("<span class=\"actsilinks\"><a href=\"#\" onclick=\"window.print()\">Print this page</a></span>");document.writeln("<br><div id='actsartcl1'>");document.writeln("<font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"3\">");
document.writeln("</font><p style=\"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;\"><font size=\"3\"><span style=\"line-height: 107%;\"><font face=\"Calibri\"><i>When Jesus");
document.writeln("came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name! /\"Zacchaeus! he said. /\"Quick! Come down! For I am going to be a guest in your home today!/\" Zacchaeus hurriedly");
document.writeln("climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the");
document.writeln("crowds were displeased. /\"He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,/\" they grumbled. Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, /\"Sir, from");
document.writeln("now on I will give half my wealth to the poor, and if I find I have overcharged");
document.writeln("anyone on his taxes, I will penalize myself by giving him back four times as");
document.writeln("much!/\" Jesus told him, This shows that salvation has come to this home today.");
document.writeln("This man was one of the lost sons of Abraham, and I, the Messiah, have come to");
document.writeln("search for and to save such souls as his.<sup>1</sup></i> </font></span></font></p><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"3\">");
document.writeln("</font><p style=\"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;\"><font size=\"3\"><span style=\"line-height: 107%;\"><font face=\"Calibri\">Zacchaeus");
document.writeln("was a man that traded relationships for wealth. He was despised by his neighbors");
document.writeln("because he gained his wealth by stealing from others. Because of these poor");
document.writeln("decisions, Zacchaeus was lonely, which is perhaps why he was so eager and");
document.writeln("curious to get a glimpse of Jesus firsthand. In addition to being a thief, Zacchaeus");
document.writeln("was also a short man. Being short myself, I can");
document.writeln("imagine that Zacchaeus received the same kind of criticism that I received growing");
document.writeln("up, which many times has the tendency to make you feel left out. When he heard");
document.writeln("that Jesus was coming to town, he climbed up a tree to be");
document.writeln("able to see Jesus! Even his great wealth could not fill the great void in his");
document.writeln("heart that, as he would soon find out, only Jesus could fill. </font></span></font></p><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"3\">");
document.writeln("</font><p style=\"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;\"><font size=\"3\"><span style=\"line-height: 107%;\"><font face=\"Calibri\">I love the");
document.writeln("story of Zacchaeus because his life may have been messy, but to Jesus, he was");
document.writeln("beautiful and important. Jesus enthusiastically called him by name, shared life");
document.writeln("with him in his home, and changed the course of his life by giving him salvation.");
document.writeln("Zacchaeus realized what he had done, planned to fix his mistakes, and most");
document.writeln("importantly opened his heart to the Savior. Regardless of what others were");
document.writeln("saying, Jesus went where he was needed the most and showed love to a lonely");
document.writeln("thief. </font></span></font></p><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"3\">");
document.writeln("</font><p style=\"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;\"><font size=\"3\"><span style=\"line-height: 107%;\"><font face=\"Calibri\">Have you");
document.writeln("ever felt left out? Have you ever made mistakes that have damaged relationships");
document.writeln("with others? The Bible says all of us have sinned, which is why we need Jesus.");
document.writeln("He is the only one who can change our heart, restore our brokenness, and");
document.writeln("forgive our sins. We may find ourselves trapped in");
document.writeln("a big mess, but even then, Jesus is waiting with arms wide open, ready to give us");
document.writeln("a hope and a future. We just need to invite him in. </font></span></font></p><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"3\">");
document.writeln("</font><p style=\"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;\"><font size=\"3\"><span style=\"line-height: 107%;\"><font face=\"Calibri\">Suggested");
document.writeln("prayer: Dear God, I have made mistakes. Perhaps I have been selfish and put my");
document.writeln("own needs before those of the people around me. Please forgive me. Please change my heart and restore me. Fill me with your love and the joy of your salvation");
document.writeln("and allow it to overflow to the people around me. Help me ask forgiveness where");
document.writeln("needed and be more like you in all I do. Thank you for making beautiful things out");
document.writeln("of messes. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.</font></span></font></p><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"3\">");
document.writeln("</font><ol style=\"list-style-type: decimal; direction: ltr;\"><li style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;\"><p style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 8pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\"><font size=\"3\"><span style=\"line-height: 107%;\">Luke 19:5-10 (<i>TLB</i>).</span></font></p></li></ol><div><font size=\"3\">The Encounter for today was written by: Crystal B.&nbsp;</font></div><font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"3\">");
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  document.writeln("<p style=\"font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size: 10pt;\">This and other devotionals by Richard (Dick) Innes <a href=\"http://www.actsweb.org/archives.php\" target=\"_blank\">can be read online</a>.<br><br>Copyright &copy; 1990 - 2026<br /><a href=\"http://www.actsweb.org/\" target=\"_blank\">ACTS International</a></p>");
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