Clean Up Your Act!

1Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was one of the most influential Jews in the Roman tax-collecting business, and he had become very rich. 3He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowds. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree beside the road, so he could watch from there.

5When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. "Zacchaeus!" he said. "Quick, come down! For I must be a guest in your home today."

6Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7But the crowds were displeased. "He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner," they grumbled.

8Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have overcharged people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!"

9Jesus responded, "Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a son of Abraham.

Have you ever done something wrong? A guy named Zacchaeus has done a lot wrong. Jesus didn't wait for Zacchaeus to stop sinning before he called to him. It's the same with us. We don't have to clean up lives before we get to know Jesus.

Here's something you can do. Be sure to ask your mom, dad or other adult for permission first.

1) Pour a cup of water into a glass. Add a few drops of red food coloring. This red water represents your sinful life.

2) Now use food coloring to make a glass of blue water. The blue water can represent Jesus.

When we follow Jesus, he makes big changes in our lives. Jesus changed Zacchaeus, and he can change you, too!