+DEV+ Follow Me!

Date: June 29, 2009 9:25 PM

Topic: +DEV+ Follow Me!

Follow Me!

“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” (Luke 5:27-28).

Scripture Focus: Luke 5:27-32

Jesus had been preaching the Good News, healing those in need, and carefully choosing people to follow Him. The Pharisees observed Him with a critical spirit. Jesus withdrew for a time to pray, then he went and found Levi collecting taxes. Jesus looked the man in the eye and said simply, “Follow me.” Levi responded by moving out of his comfort zone and following Jesus. Then he made his commitment to Jesus known by opening his home where Jesus could come and meet his friends.

The world, in this case the Pharisees, were critical. “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” they asked Jesus. Of course, that was exactly what God had sent Jesus to do.

It’s encouraging to know that God uses ordinary people like Levi to serve Him and build His church. And like Levi, we should look for ways to build His church by being available to those outside the family of God, helping them make a spiritual connection with the Savior. Following Jesus means more than accepting Him; it also means serving Him.

Insight: It is the purpose of God to take His church and make us the channels through which He expresses Himself.