“BECAUSE HE STEPPED IN”

13 He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

Mark 2:13-14

Our existence on Earth isn't only to merely survive our day-to-day challenges. Whether we acknowledge it or not, there is a far deeper meaning to our earthly life.

Yesterday's blog reminds us that Jesus sees everyone. No human being is beyond His knowledge, so He knows the real us. Let’s keep digging.

Levi’s occupation put him in a not-so-desirable position among the people. Tax collectors were not known for their honesty. Instead, they often collected more than they should, failed to post the regulations, and made false quotations and accusations. For assessment purposes, they were allowed to search anything except the person of a Roman lady; any property not properly declared was subject to seizure. A customs officer like Levi would charge tariffs on goods passing through Capernaum. While those tariffs were only 3 percent, the cost of moving goods multiplied because traders had to pay them on every border they crossed.

For these reasons, tax collectors were considered traitors and looked down on like prostitutes and panderers and regarded as the scum of society. Moreover, because of the nature of their work, they were ceremonially unclean by constantly interacting with Gentiles. Therefore, Levi probably hadn’t worshiped at the Temple in years.

Now Jesus stops by Levi’s tax booth and tells him, “Follow me.” Levi responds by rising up and going with Jesus. The Greek word for follow (“akolouteo”) means “to join one as a disciple.” This isn’t a simple escorting or tagging along; it is a call to leave one’s life and pursue another. As it appears, Levi’s days of counting coins, writing receipts, and collecting Roman taxes are over. He has now found his life’s purpose.

Levi could now identify with David, who realized he needed a new spirit.

10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

Psalm 51:10

You and I should be able to relate to Levi’s story. At some point in life, we were living apart from God, doing things for our own benefit. We didn’t really think about God—let alone obey His will. We practically became the lords of our own lives. Or these things could be happening to you right now. But those days are over if you come to the Lord in repentance and faith, as Levi did.

Jesus stepped in and gave us a new life. We can now leave our old lives behind and pursue our amazing Savior! The Lord made us right with God, so we are now a part of His family. We can now come boldly into the very presence of God on the basis of Jesus’ accomplishments. And if we do, we know that God will listen.

If you haven’t come to Christ yet, can you think of a better time than now?

Pursue the Savior today!

Photo by Alexandru Tudorache on Unsplash