Today’s Reading: Luke 5:27-32

“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, and Levi got up, left everything and followed Him.”

Luke 5:27-28

Meditation: After showing a crowd that He has the authority to forgive and heal (in Luke 5:17-26), Jesus goes out and sees a tax collector Levi, who is poised at his booth, collecting taxes. The job of the Roman tax collector was looked down upon by the Jewish people. Levi (also revealed to be Matthew in the Gospel of Matthew) was a Jewish man who worked to collect tax money on behalf of the Roman government from his own people. Not only were tax collectors seen as traitors of their people, but they were also known for demanding extra money from the people as a payment to themselves. This type of career led to financial wealth, but a poor societal status.

We read in Scripture that Jesus, after proving His Holy authority through healing and forgiving sins, then goes out and sees Levi performing his tax collector duties and says to him, “Follow Me.” And as simply as Jesus calls to Him, Levi willingly leaves all that he has behind to follow. He leaves behind not only his wealth, but also his lifestyle.

How simple yet difficult can it be to give this response when we are found living our own way! Perhaps there are things we do or decisions we make that we don’t think we need God to manage. But in all situations and circumstances, Jesus calls us out of our own way of life and commands us to simply follow.

Prayer: Lord, every good and perfect blessing comes from You. Thank You for calling me to be Your own. Thank You for the life of love, and purpose that comes from simply following You. Help me to daily forsake my own ways and seek after Your Will. Help me to trust You more and more. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN.

Thru the Bible in a year (credit: Biblestudytools.com): Luke 5:27-39; Genesis 1:1-2:25; Psalm 1