By LEE CROWDER

In the account of when Jesus came to Jericho on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus ends up meeting a man named Zacchaeus.
Zacchaeus was a publican, or tax collector, but not just any tax collector, but a chief tax collector.
This may not sound like a big deal to us, but in Zacchaeus’s day it was.
See in Zacchaeus’s day a tax collector was worse than a murderer to the Jews.
That person not only worked for the Gentiles, the Roman Empire, but they didn’t regulate taxes well.
They had to collect a certain amount, once they did that anything else was the collector’s keep.
Zacchaeus was not just a tax collect, but a chief, a supervisor.
We are like Zacchaeus we are all sinners. Galatians 3:22 says: But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
See, we are all under since.
That’s the bad news.
Ready for the good news?
Just as Jesus came to where Zacchaeus was, he will come to you.
If you are saved by faith in Jesus Christ, the Christ came to you and chose you.
When you were an enemy of God, he sent Jesus to die for you . Romans 5:8.
When you couldn’t reach a thrice Holy God, he made a way for you to have life and eternal life.
See Jesus in this account showed some of his characteristics such as: loving, accepting and non-judgemental.
How? Well, Zacchaeus was the worse of the worst, but Jesus never once judged him, but said to him, “ Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide in thy house.”
He wanted to be personal with Zacchaeus.
He wanted to dine with him.
See, Jesus cared for him, loved him, and wasn’t judging him because of his life, but rather chose to be personal with him.
Can I say if you don’t know my Lord Jesus Christ, he want to know you.
He wants to be personal with you and he wants you to have life.
By not choosing Jesus to be your Lord, you’re missing out on everything.
In this world today, we all need someone who’s loving, caring, non-judgmental, accepting of us and who wants to personal with you.
My friends only one person can be that and his name is Jesus.

The Rev. Lee Crowder is a member of the Andalusia Area Ministerial Association.