All right, Luke chapter 19 is where we are this morning. I'm going to read a story that might be familiar to many of you, especially if you've grown up in the church, spend any time in the church, know your Bibles. This is the story of Zakias.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with your Bibles, this might be new information, but it's a wonderful story about a man who had a divine appointment with Jesus.

And so let's read together. I'm going to read from chapter 19, verses 1 through 10, follow along as I read. Luke 19 verse 1 says, then Jesus entered and

passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zechias, who was a chief tax collector,

and he was rich.

And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. And so he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was going to

pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him and said to him,

Zakias, make haste and come down for today, I must stay at your house.

And so he made haste and came down and received him joyfully.

But when they saw it, that's the crowd, they all complained, saying he has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner

and then zekias stood and said to the lord i find that a little funny because like because he was a

short man it had to say specifically he stood is that guy standing yeah he's standing

then zekiah stood and said to the lord lord He stood. Is that guy standing? Yeah, he's standing.

Then Zekees stood and said to the Lord, Lord, look, I give half of my goods to the poor.

And if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.

And Jesus said to him, today salvation has come to this house because he also is a son of Abraham.

For the son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Amen?

Let's pray there.

Lord, we commit our Bible study to you now.

Use this story to speak to our hearts.

Give us ears to hear. A mind to believe, a heart to receive.

...