Saturday, 18 October 2025
Today, I would like to share a Bible story with you. When Jesus entered the city of Jericho, there was a rich tax collector named Zacchaeus. Many people in Jericho wanted to meet Jesus because he was famous. Zacchaeus also wanted to meet Him, but he was short and couldn’t see over the crowd.
So, Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a tree to get a better view. When Jesus passed by, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately! I must stay at your house today.” Zacchaeus came down and welcomed Jesus joyfully.
The crowd therefore started complaining, “He is going to be a guest of a sinner.” Zacchaeus worked for the Romans and was not welcomed by the people. At that moment, Zacchaeus reflected on his unjust gains and felt deep remorse. He decided to compensate four times what he had taken unfairly and to give half of his money to the poor. This repentance moved Jesus, and He granted salvation to Zacchaeus and his family. This is the end of the story.
Now, let us think of someone you dislike and list three of their shortcomings. After that, please consider five of their good characters. Usually, we can quickly point out many faults; however, it often takes much longer to come up with good things.
It seems like our society is filled with complaints. Many comments on social media focus on criticizing others or pointing out their mistakes. We often blame others for problems, focusing on their faults, but we rarely think about our own mistakes.
The theme of this month is “Respect differences; treat others with tolerance.” When God created people, He did not make us all exactly the same; rather, He made each person unique, allowing for personal growth while also endowing us with admirable qualities worthy of appreciation. Just like the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus, Jesus did not reject him because of his identity or social status; instead, he actively engaged with him. Jesus neither criticized Zacchaeus for his past nor his actions; He offered him a chance to change.
Everyone can strive to be better, even if it’s hard sometimes. So, can we let Jesus be our role model and be more understanding and accepting of others? Can we look past their faults and work together to improve our relationships?
Ms WK Poon