A man walks up. Maybe you've seen him around, heard a few things about him. He stands in front of your desk and says, "Follow me."
What would you do?
Luke 5 tells the story of what Levi the tax collector did in that situation. Jesus stands at the desk of Levi, the tax collector, the lowest of the low, a government sponsored extortionist, and says, "Follow me." Levi gets up, leaves everything behind and follows him.
What does this say about the kinds of people Jesus pursues?
The very next thing Levi does is throw a dinner party for all his friends. Here are some things he didn't do in between following and the party:
- join Extortionists Anonymous and try to clean up his life
- take the New Members Class and join a Small Group
- run out to Family Christian to buy the New Christian packet, complete with bumper sticker, mouse pad, key chain, bible bag and wall hangings for every room in the house
- go to a Christian conference
- start writing a Christian blog
Those are the kinds of things a girl like me does. Show me the program and give me the t-shirt because I'm a follower, baby! What do I check off my list next?
(ahem...could this be one of those times when life is less about doing and more about being?)
Levi followed simply by opening his doors to everyone he knew and inviting them to dinner, to the banquet of grace he found in Jesus.
The people who came were people like Levi. And Jesus didn't just show up. He was the guest of honor.
What kind of people does Jesus pursue?
Not the healthy (or the people who think they are). The sick ... who KNOW they are. Those are the people Jesus comes after, those are the people he invites to follow, those are the people he sits around a table with, eating and drinking and laughing.
Following Jesus is saying, "Jesus, I am sick! Make me well!" And then, being made well, immediately inviting all my sick friends to the table, not with gospel tracts and bible studies. But with parties, banquets where the food and drink and music and laughter make much of the one who has made me well.
Levi left everything and followed.
- Do I know I am sick deeply enough to follow the only one who can make me well?
- Do I know it so well that I'll leave everything behind and follow his call?
- And in following, will I throw open my doors and invite the kinds of people Jesus loves to pursue to the banquet?
- Who can I invite today, tomorrow, next week?
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Based on the latest sermon in the Dinner with Jesus series at my church. Click here for the full sermon.
Linking up with Michelle @ Graceful and Jen @ Finding Heaven 
Hi Kim - I like how you way "people who are sick who KNOW they are sick. Never a truer statement said. If someone denies they need Christ - how can they recognise their need of Him. Great thought provoking post
ReplyDeleteGod bless
Tracy
Ok, typo, was supposed to read how you SAY - sorry :)
ReplyDeleteYes! Love this! It is in the recognition of our true need that we come into an understanding of our relationship to Him. And that joy overflows to those around us. Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteKim! I've missed you! I love this whole post, but what hit me was the laughing with Jesus bit. I don't do that enough....
ReplyDeleteI like your list of what Levi doesn't do -- except that I am guilty of doing most of those things myself!
ReplyDelete{I prefer this blog layout, by the way!}
Great post Kim. I pray that we all see the sickness inside so that we can all follow and share that banquet! I hope that I would have had the courage to leave the 'comfort' of my life, to step outside my 'box' to follow....
ReplyDeleteAndie