Did you know there’s a story in the Bible about a left-handed guy who stabbed a fat king while he was using the bathroom? No? Trust me, you need to know this story!
The Kingdom of God is a Party
There’s an important lesson for us in the story of Levi’s call. Following Jesus is not just about what we leave behind, but who we take with us. It’s a lesson that reminds us, the Kingdom of God is a party!
What was Levi thinking? He heard Jesus’ message and his call to follow, and the first thing he did was throw a party! Who did he invite? Not the religious leaders, not the upstanding citizens. He invited the most hated and reviled people imaginable.
He invited people just like him–tax collectors!
Levi knew the hearts of the people he invited. He knew how his world had rejected them, just like it had rejected him. They were despised and rejected. They never got invited to parties. Not the right parties, anyway.
So Levi invited them to his!
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Be Strong and Courageous
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
Extraordinary Things
In Luke 5:17-26, we read the story of Jesus healing a paralyzed man. That’s an amazing miracle, but that’s not extraordinary.
In the story, the house where Jesus is staying is packed, so the people who brought the man had to tear a hole in the roof and lower him down. That’s an impressive commitment to a friend, but it’s not extraordinary.
As Jesus encounters the man, after his friends have lowered him in, while the people are all waiting to see a miracle, Jesus does something truly extraordinary.
He tells the man, “Your sins are forgiven.”
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