Follow Me!

For Thursday, December 21, 2023:

Mark 2:14 NLT: “As Jesus walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me and be my disciple,’ Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.”

Tax collectors must have spent a lot of time not liking themselves. They had become traitors to their heritage and to their families. Tax collectors were working for the bad guys, the Romans, the ones who had conquered Israel. Known for cheating and dishonesty, the tax collector asking for three dollars probably only needed two. The extra dollar was for himself!

Collecting taxes was Levi’s job, and like any job, it came with duties and responsibilities. Abandoning his tax booth in the middle of the day to follow some religious newcomer wasn’t in the job description! The Romans wouldn’t be pleased!

But I suspect that for some time, Levi had been torn between the two worlds. He may have felt guilty ignoring his own people to work for the Romans. So when Jesus offered the invitation to become a disciple, Levi was ready to make a change in his life. Sure, tax collecting was a living, but Levi was looking for something of substance, something that would make a difference, something of eternal significance.

If Jesus taps you on the shoulder and says, “Follow me and be my disciple,” are you prepared to abandon your tax booth? Perhaps you weren’t working for Rome, but you weren’t working for Jesus either! We have been given free choice to say yes or no to Jesus. It’s time to tackle the task with eternal ramifications. Choose wisely!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship