I don’t know about you, but retail therapy is a thing! In God’s abundant grace, he’s opened my eyes to the reality of retail therapy in my own life. I can honestly (and shamefully) admit that I have identified times in which I shopped simply to make myself feel better.

And yet, the truest evidence of a transformed heart by the grace of God is sacrificial giving. This is what we see in Zacchaeus’ life in Luke 19. After Jesus went to Zacchaeus’ home for a visit, we read, “And when they saw it, they all grumbled, ‘He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.’ And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, ‘Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor.’”

Rather than sulking in his own shame and guilt often associated with being a tax collector, Zacchaeus exhibited a truly transformed heart because of being with Jesus. And this transformation was powerfully shown in his sacrificial generosity to the poor, to whom he gave half of all his possessions, not just his salary. We as Christians are to be generous simply because Jesus has been so generous to us through his grace and mercy. When we give from that posture of sacrifice and compassion, we show the world that grace is real, and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is the true healing salve for the sinner in us all!