I love the story of Zacchaeus as recorded in Luke 19.1 – 10. Usually, I point out that Jesus had enough margin in his life to actually stop for Zacchaeus. I wouldn’t have if I had been on a mission to get to Jerusalem in time for Passover and what we now know as Passion Week. Also, Jesus violated cultural norms (and offended Pharisees) by talking with a hated tax collector.

But here’s another thought, courtesy my friend Hanh from Sedalia, Colorado. We were discussing that we can meet and hear from God anywhere, as I wrote a few days ago. Hanh said,

Consider that Zacchaeus was up in a tree, but Jesus asked him to come down. And where did the meeting take place? Zacchaeus’ house!

We often look for God in the spectacular, but God appears more often in the ordinary. 

And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” (Luke 19.5, ESV)

And he said [to Elijah], “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19.11 – 13, ESV, emphasis mine)