The Tax Collector Did What?!?!?!

Levi was an unexpecting man whose life was turned upside down by two words. A rich and powerful tax collector sitting at his booth was visited by Jesus. Jesus said, “follow me,” and knowing that this was the Savior they had been waiting for, left his life of money, comfort and power to follow Jesus and do greater things than he could have ever imagined. He jumped in both feet first and wholeheartedly followed Jesus. Sometimes the lure of power, prestige, and money, can be anchors that keep us from moving into what God truly intends for us. It can be difficult to let go of the “place of comfort” for the sometimes unknown. But we can be certain of this, when we are obedient to His calling we can expect that it will be greater than we could ask or imagine.

Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us."

 So let us drop everything that hinders.

  Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

 After Levi jumps all in, he uses a great amount of his resources to throw a banquet for Jesus and share with the people in his life the greatest thing he has ever known.. Levi understood that one of the most powerful acts of ministry is fellowship. His guests of honor were the people that most wouldn’t want to be around, but he knew that he wanted to share this abundant life with them regardless of their current state. Jesus says in v.31 “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

 Inviting people into your home and sharing a meal with them is a great way to build relationship and show love and generosity toward others.

 Who could you invite into your home this week to bless with a meal and get to know better?

 Levi continued to share with other about the life of Jesus when he wrote the book of Matthew. I am sure that when Levi was sitting in his tax booth before Jesus came along he never would have imagined that he would know the Saviour of our world, perform miracles, change countless lives, and write a book about Jesus’ life that would still be read and change lives through the power of Christ 2000 years later. Cool!

Luke 6:27-31
 The Calling of Levi
  27 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. 29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”