| After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” – Luke 5:27 |
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| The Shocking Request that Changed His Life On the surface, we have a pretty straightforward verse here in Luke 5:27 as Jesus sees a man named Levi (Matthew) and calls him to FOLLOW Him. Yet this is a very profound verse as we read of Jesus calling what many would call the most unqualified and even more so undesirable person to be a disciple. Levi is, after all, a tax collector. The title of tax collector speaks of CORRUPTION! It speaks of one who TAKES ADVANTAGE of their own people! It speaks of one with NO INTEGRITY!! Yet Jesus calls this man, this type of man, to join Him. After all, Jesus did come to SEEK and to SAVE those who were lost, to save SINNERS. (Luke 19:10) We should pay attention to the call, to the invitation, for Jesus did say, “Follow ME.” That two-word invitation to Levi the tax collector was an invitation to LEAVE what he was doing and walk in a new way and learn new things and yes, become a new man. He would no longer be a tax collector but a follower of Jesus! BTW – How much of a change took place in the life of Levi (Matthew) the former tax collector? If you open your NT to the first page, you will see the name Matthew (Levi). How about that?!! He becomes one of the gospel writers. And when we read His gospel, we get more than a story of one named Jesus Christ. We read proof after proof that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah. Over and over Matthew will use the word FULFILLED to demonstrate that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies. This means he had to learn and know the Old Testament really well! So, why do we get to read the gospel of Matthew with multiple proofs that Jesus is the Messiah? Because one day Jesus saw more than a tax collector. He saw more than a vile, wicked, corrupt sinner and extended him an opportunity to be different and to make a difference! Here is something to think about from Luke 5:27. There just might be in your path today a vile, wicked, corrupt sinner that needs to hear an invitation from you to follow Jesus. If Matthew could go from being a tax collector to a disciple and writer of a gospel book the person in your path can be changed by Jesus as well. Don’t look at where they presently are and what they are known for or to be. Look at what they can become if they know and follow Jesus!! Verse to DATE on May 27 (5/27) is Luke 5:27. It says, “After these things Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi (Matthew), sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” Let us be inviting sinners to meet the Savior and become saints!! Continue Strong letting sinners know about our great SAVIOR, And remember to DATE The Word |