“If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:20 (NIV)
No matter what I’ve done, Jesus wants me!
Zacchaeus’ appearance made him feel insecure and lonely and inferior. Zacchaeus’ accusers made him feel bitter and resentful. But Zacchaeus’ sins made him feel guilty and ashamed.
After stopping and noticing Zacchaeus and calling him by name, Jesus did the most shocking thing of all: He invited himself to the home of the worst guy in the city of Jericho.
Jesus knew that Zacchaeus would be filled with guilt and shame and would never think himself worthy enough to have Jesus in his home.
And still, the Bible says, “When Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down! I must stay at your house today’” (Luke 19:5 NCV).
Because I'm a human being, I've done things that I'm ashamed of. The Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 NIV).
But Jesus is more interested in changing me than condemning me. He said he didn’t come to condemn the world but to save it (John 3:17).
No matter what I've done, who I’ve done it with, or how long I’ve done it, it matters more what direction my feet are headed today.
In going to Zacchaeus’ home, Jesus was essentially telling him, “No matter what you’ve done, Zacchaeus, I want you. I want to go to your house and have dinner. I want to fellowship with you. I want to have a relationship with you.”
God is saying that to me as well. No matter how much I've blown it, the starting point of salvation is when I swallow my pride and admit I need God’s help.
Sure, I've made mistakes along the way. But I haven’t lost one cent of my value to my Creator.
Jesus wants a relationship with me. He wants to come to my house and have dinner. He’s standing at the door of my life and knocking. He says, “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (Revelation 3:20 NIV).
In summary:
Regardless of past mistakes or feelings of shame, Jesus actively seeks a personal relationship with every individual, just as He did by inviting Himself to the home of the outcast Zacchaeus. It illustrates that while human nature is prone to sin and insecurity, God’s priority is transformation and fellowship rather than condemnation, as our inherent value to the Creator remains unchanged. Ultimately, the starting point of spiritual renewal is found in swallowing one's pride to open the door to Jesus, who stands ready to offer grace and connection to anyone who welcomes Him.
Bottom Line:
This is unconditional belonging. My past actions or personal insecurities do not diminish my value to God. He isn't waiting for me to get my life in order before He approaches me; instead, He is already "knocking," actively seeking a personal relationship and offering a fresh start based on grace rather than judgment.
Next step:
Instead of over-analyzing my past mistakes or trying to "fix" myself to be worthy, set aside 10–15 minutes of quiet time to simply acknowledge my need.
Be Honest: Like Zacchaeus coming down from the tree, acknowledge the areas where you feel "guilty, ashamed, or inferior."
The "Dinner" Mindset: Imagine the invitation mentioned in Revelation 3:20. If Jesus were sitting across the table from you right now, what is the one thing I’ve been hesitant to tell Him?
Release the Pride: The passage notes that the starting point is swallowing pride. Admit that I don't have all the answers—whether that’s regarding my spiritual life, my business, or my personal peace.
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