September 27 – Calling Another Disciple

And He went out again by the seashore; and all the people were coming to Him, and He was teaching them. As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, "Follow Me!" And he got up and followed Him. And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, "Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?" And hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:13-17 NASB

Follow Me—Jesus was again calling another disciple. This time it was Matthew, or Levi, the tax collector that Jesus asks to follow him. Tax collectors were not liked since they were known to overcharge others to line their own pockets. So from smelly fish to smelly money Jesus surrounded himself with downcast ordinary people. If He had chosen His disciples from the righteous pious people, would others have chosen to follow Him? Would you? The brash Peter changed as he became one of Jesus’ closest disciples and Matthew gave back money to those he had overcharged, demonstrating the change in his life after meeting Jesus. Have you met Jesus and allowed Him to change you?  Do you consider yourself a disciple of Jesus?

Shortly after I became a born again Christian I went to visit my sister who was married to a US Air Force officer and living in Mississippi. We were sitting having a glass of iced tea on hot summer afternoon and she said to me, “You’ve changed. What’s happened in your life?” My thought was that I was the same as ever…and then I realized that I didn’t have the same sarcastic tongue and attitude that was always looking down on others that she had known of me as we were growing up. So I shared with her that I had been born again…and then she told me that she had, too. It was a wonderful moment—to know that we would share eternity together! She has already gone to our eternal home…and I know I will follow her one day—because we both followed Jesus when He called. Follow Me. We were sinners—like everyone else in this world. In Romans 3:23 it says … for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God….But although we all are condemned to death, we have a great assurance in Romans 6:23, For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. NASB This assurance from God continues… But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8, and "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9 NKJV

A free gift. Who isn’t looking today for something “free”? This is the best free gift anyone could ever offer or receive. Actually everyone will have eternal life…it is just where they will be. Heaven or hell? It is up to you to choose for yourself. No one else can choose for you…not your parents, siblings, friends, teacher, priest, or minister. You choose your own destiny. Jesus is calling you. Are you listening? I did and I’m glad I listened and responded, “Yes.” I’ll follow You.

Jesus—Again I thank you for being my Savior…for the gift of eternal life…for calling me and for listening when I called out to You.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.