September 10 More Surprises

Luke 5:27-28 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.
 
A few lessons back, we read of the Lord’s calling of Peter, James and John. Out of their fishing boats these men responded to Jesus’, “Follow me.” Now Levi, whom we also know as the gospel writer Matthew, rises up from his tax collector’s booth to also join with the Lord.
    Just as with the healed cripple, these callings, too, are a demonstration of the Lord’s gift of forgiveness and saving grace over those he chooses. Levi and the other disicples had done nothing to earn the Lord’s command to, “Follow me”. In fact, Levi’s occupation was one of the most despised in Israel. Jews who were tax collectors were viewed as men who had betrayed their nation to support Rome and to defraud their own people. Tax collectors were their own power unto themselves, rewarded for filling Rome’s coffers. Rome’s depletion of Israel’s resources was one of the most severe effects this mighty power had over the tiny nation.
    Still, Jesus had a purpose for Levi. He would graciously make a disciple of Levi, so Levi would one day write of Jesus to convince the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus redeemed Levi from his lawless ways to bring him into God’s righteous truth. God had a plan for the man. Jesus-called and Spirit-powered, Levi fulfilled the plan. Much of what we know about Jesus comes from his gospel.
    But still those who saw Jesus forgive and heal the crippled man and then say to Levi, “Follow me.” continued to wonder about Jesus. You’ll see how they challenged and criticized Jesus for being around such “sinners” as a tax collector. They couldn’t comprehend God’s grace to save.
    In our lives and in our church, we must comprehend and remember God’s grace to save. It is easy to criticize and speak of others’ sins and shortcomings. I pray we can be eager, instead, to truly follow Jesus into his healing, salvation, love and forgiveness.
 
Prayer: Lord God, may I rise up from my sin to walk closely with you. In Jesus’ name, amen.