Jesus always showed honour to the down-and-outers. Even when there was nothing to celebrate in their lives and they achieved nothing of worth, 𝗛𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗼𝗱. Even when He was superior over them morally, socially, spiritually, and intellectually, Jesus was always honouring.

We can learn so much through Jesus’s example in honouring Zacchaeus, the Jewish tax collector (Lk 19:1-10). 𝗛𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗯𝘆 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲. Like us, Zacchaeus had a deep need and strong desire for recognition, and Jesus met that need. Jesus bothered to ask around and find out more about Zacchaeus. He wasn’t only interested in His own ministry and vision, He also showed interest in this sinful chief tax collector. He was preferring him over Himself (Phil 2:3; Rom 12:10).

Jesus was very friendly with Zacchaeus. Learn to smile when you meet people. It takes fewer facial muscles to smile than to frown. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝘀𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘂𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗺 (Num 6:25). We live in a world that is already so stressed and unhappy, so let our smiles communicate the love, joy and peace of God; and they go straight into people’s hearts.

It is always easy to honour people who are already honourable. But God wants us to prefer the weaker, the slower, the less attractive, those less capable and less accomplished than us, as well as those under our leadership and care. 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺, 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀. Let us learn to honor those under our care – our subordinates, CG or church members, and domestic helpers. Will you decide to be like Jesus in showing honour today?