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, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.
Levi knows Jesus is a Teacher. He also understands when a rabbi says, Follow Me, it is an invitation to become a fulltime student.
That’s why there’s no hesitation. It’s a no-brainer.
This is an easy choice for Levi. He immediately walks off the job to take advantage of Jesus’ offer for an education in life.
To enter the University of Jesus is an honor far greater than any other. To be a student of this Teacher is the opportunity of a lifetime.
The Teacher has special plans for Levi. He will become one of His twelve apostles. He will write the first book of the New Testament – Matthew.
Today, Jesus is still calling all people – Follow Me.
The decision should be equally obvious for us. Something we also do without hesitation - if like Levi - we realize the blessings becoming a student of Jesus will bring to our life.
Levi was willing to walk away from everything to follow Him.
Students today still walk away from anything standing in the way of being a serious student of this Teacher. For the Teacher has special plans for every follower.
How are we like Jesus in this instance?
ReplyDeleteNot that going to church is a negative thing, we are to meet together to encourage one another. However, I know of a bulletin line for a church somewhere that reads something like: "God never told the world to go to church, but he told the church to go to the world."
What I'm wondering is how good am I at going into the world and bringing the healing power of Jesus' love to the spiritually sick of the world?
I go to church regularly, I try to encourage my brothers, my job as a preacher has me busy with church members... I do have some cricles of friends outside the church... am I really doing what I should in those circles? Living an example is only the first step. What am I doing to reach out to the lost of the world around me?
Challenging!