| Photo by Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash
In Luke 5, we read that Jesus saw Levi, the tax collector, and called him to follow Jesus. Levi invites Jesus to his home and calls all his friends to come and meet Jesus. Levi responds and follows Jesus. What an opportunity for people to meet Jesus. Try to imagine what kind of people were friends with Levi.
And your Jesus is eating with sinners. (Jesus was on purpose to reach people). That is still the purpose of the church today. But the religious leaders are upset and complain to Jesus’s disciples about Jesus eating with the wrong kind of people, sinners, no good people, and we should have nothing to do with them.
We read in Luke 5:31-32; Jesus responds to the religious people. “Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor – sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and must repent.”
Religious people think that they are righteous in all that they do! We do the right things; we go to the right places, dress the right way, talk the right way, etc. But it is really all about self and what we do for God.
But Jesus came because we can not do anything to save ourselves. We need Jesus because He died on the Cross to forgive us of our sins and to make us a child of God!
Jesus wants everyone on this life journey to realize that we are invited to come to Jesus, allow Him to save us from all of our sins, and make us righteous because of what He has DONE and not because of anything we DO!
What a wonderful Jesus that wants somebody like me to follow Him!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Pastor Ronald Squibb has been the Lead Senior Pastor of the International Christian Church (ICC) at Staten Island, New York, since 2011. He draws many experiences from his over 40 years as a pastor and significant emotional life experiences.
His new book, Following the Journey with Jesus, which he co-authored with Daniel McNaughton, was recently published and is getting rave reviews. His devotional appears daily in this publication.
