Day 36
Matthew is Called
Matthew 9:9-13; Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32
Our devotional is called:
The Unexpected Guest
As Jesus walked along the shore of the lake, His gaze settled on a man hunched over a tax collector’s booth. In that seemingly mundane space, destiny stirred. “Follow me,” Jesus said, words simple yet laced with possibility. And Levi? He rose, no questions asked, no past clinging to him like barnacles. In that swift obedience, a lesson whispered: when God calls, we answer, leaving hesitation on the dusty roadside.
Jesus was welcomed to dinner by Levi, a man ostracized by society. Sinners and outcasts mingled with disciples, a tapestry woven not of righteousness, but of grace. The Pharisees who saw this, scowled, clinging to their rigid notions of holiness, but Jesus’ gaze held compassion, not condemnation. He had come for the lost, not the self-proclaimed “found.”
Levi’s life, transformed by a single encounter, stands as a beacon. We are all, in some way, tax collectors burdened by past choices or lost souls navigating life’s pathway. But Jesus beckons, offering not judgment, but a fresh start. He sees beyond our stumbles, recognizing the potential for healing, for growth.
So let us walk in the sunlit wake of His call, ready to answer promptly, hearts open to second chances. Let us seek the lost, not with judgment, but with the outstretched hand of love, remembering that in the embrace of compassion, even the most shadowed path leads to the radiant light of grace.
This, too, is Levi’s legacy: a reminder that every encounter, every table shared, offers an invitation to join the grand tapestry of redemption, woven with threads of forgiveness, acceptance, and boundless love.
Our story today came from Matthew 9:9-13; Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32.
Lonnie Davis
Further Thoughts:
- Jesus calls sinners: Jesus called Matthew, a tax collector, to follow him. He didn’t call the righteous, but sinners.
- Jesus dines with sinners: Jesus ate with Matthew and other tax collectors and sinners. He didn’t shy away from those who were considered outcasts.
- Jesus desires mercy: Jesus said, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” He wants us to show compassion to others, not just follow religious rituals.
- Jesus is a doctor: Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” He came to heal the sick and the sinners.
- Jesus teaches: Jesus taught the people who followed him. He shared his wisdom and knowledge with them.
- Jesus calls us to repent: Jesus said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” He calls us to turn away from our sins and follow him.
- Jesus can use anyone: Jesus called Matthew, a tax collector, to follow him. He shows that he can use anyone, even those society rejects.
- God allows second chances: Everyone deserves a chance to change their path. Jesus reaching out to Matthew, a tax collector, shows that no one is beyond redemption.
- Jesus welcomes everyone: Jesus welcomes everyone, regardless of their past. It is not your past that matters to Jesus, it is your future.
- Jesus emphasizes caring for the sick: Jesus emphasizes caring for the “sick” who need healing, not the “healthy” who are already well. This translates to focusing on helping those in need and offering guidance to those who may have strayed.