Chief of the Publicans – Stepping in the Light

“And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.” Luke 19:1-5

Zacchaeus was an important man. At the very least, he was the leader of the tax collectors in Jericho, but it is possible that his title applies to the whole region, or even the entire country. Zacchaeus had evidently heard about Jesus and wanted to see him. He wasn’t trying to use his connections to get the opportunity to talk with Jesus, he just wanted to get a glimpse of Him. Zacchaeus figured out which way Jesus was travelling, hurried ahead, and climbed up in a tree so he could get a good look at Him as He passed by. You may be sure that Zacchaeus was surprised that Jesus stopped right under the tree where he was, called him by name, and announced that He was coming over to his house that day. Some people criticized Jesus for being a guest at a sinner’s house, but Jesus told them that He came to seek and to save the lost. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus that day, but he didn’t realize that Jesus was looking for him. It matters not whether they are short or tall, rich or poor, popular or obscure; Jesus wants to save sinners of every kind.

Morning: II Samuel 23-24

Evening: Luke 19:1-27

About This Site

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105

If you were to find yourself walking down a path in the dark of night with only an old-fashioned lantern to light the way, you wouldn’t be able to see very far ahead. You would be able to see just enough of the pathway to know which direction to take your next step and enough of the ground to choose the best place for your feet. When it comes to our daily lives, God’s Word is a lot like that lantern. It will not show us the whole path at once, but it is exactly what we need to help us decide how to take the next step.

The Bible is our source of spiritual light, and if we consistently seek God’s direction as we read from its pages, we will always have enough light for our next step along the pathway of life. It is then that we are, in the words of an old gospel song, “stepping in the light.”

The goal of this devotional guide is to encourage you to spend time in the Word of God each day. Reading the passages listed at the bottom of the page will take you all the way through the Bible in one year. The devotional thought for each day is taken from a text within that day’s reading, so even that small daily portion of reading will take you on a journey through God’s Word. It is my prayer that this guide would help you to walk closer to the Lord and that you will find yourself taking each step in the light of His Word.