The Call

 Mark 2: 13-17

Jesus Calls Levi

¹³ He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. ¹⁴ And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

¹⁵ And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. ¹⁶ And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” ¹⁷ And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Why did Levi leave his lucrative tax table so readily?  Was there already discontent simmering within him?  Was the call of Jesus so magnetic, so compelling, that he could just jump up to follow him? What if he had said "no" and remained a tax collector?  Would he ever have made such as impact on this world, in my spiritual growth and that of millions if he had remained Levi the Tax Collector? It was a huge move, but the results are so huge, they are impossible to measure. 

Is God calling today?  Are there Matthews out there still responding to the call?  Are there others ignoring it? Do I hear the call?  How am I responding?.  Dear God, help me to respond with a resounding YES, as Matthew did, and trust that your plan for me is better than any I could devise myself.

Bro. Rene