Today we are reading Mark 2. In this chapter we read about the calling of Levi(Matthew). “He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 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. And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”” Mark 2:13-17 ESV When Jesus called fishermen to be His disciples it was unusual. They were not scholars from the local religious community but hard-scrabble blue-collar laborers who lived by the sweat of their brow and strong backs. When Jesus called Levi, He went in a completely different direction. Again, he was not a leader in the religious community but quite the opposite—he was despised by all the Jews. This same man wrote the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus equips us to be what He has called us to be. God bless you as you faithfully serve Him! Pastor Tim
