THE TAX COLLECTOR IN ME
SCRIPTURE
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
Jesus's disciple whom we know as Matthew--called Levi in this passage from Luke—was a tax collector. He was hated, snubbed, and considered to be a Jewish traitor. He over-collected Roman taxes with no remorse. Numbed to his social isolation because he lived well, he probably rationalized his actions with gray-area thinking. Did he believe Rome owed him? Or maybe he thought he was doing it for his family. We can always find a reason to do what we want.
What disarming look did Jesus give him? What made Matthew see the contrast between the lie he built his life upon and the truth that could free him? What made him leave his tax-collecting post and follow the teacher who saw into his heart? It was love--love so great and permeating that Matthew's life completely changed. He no longer desired to take from others. Instead, he lived to give more than he took.
Sometimes our insecurities push us into tax-collecting ways. We expect others to give us the confidence, the understanding, the security we need. We can take our tax-collecting postures until Jesus looks us in the face. He reminds us that when we let others supply what should come first from him, we stay needy. We have the same opportunity Jesus gave Matthew. We can leave our tax-collecting folly to follow him into a deeper security we can't know any other way.
BURNING QUESTIONS
1. Where do you take more than you give?
2. What do you need to leave behind in order to follow Jesus today?
AFFIRMATION
When I am in need, Jesus is my first responder.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Promise-keeping Lord, protect me from taking from others what you have promised to give more generously.
SCRIPTURE
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
Jesus's disciple whom we know as Matthew--called Levi in this passage from Luke—was a tax collector. He was hated, snubbed, and considered to be a Jewish traitor. He over-collected Roman taxes with no remorse. Numbed to his social isolation because he lived well, he probably rationalized his actions with gray-area thinking. Did he believe Rome owed him? Or maybe he thought he was doing it for his family. We can always find a reason to do what we want.
What disarming look did Jesus give him? What made Matthew see the contrast between the lie he built his life upon and the truth that could free him? What made him leave his tax-collecting post and follow the teacher who saw into his heart? It was love--love so great and permeating that Matthew's life completely changed. He no longer desired to take from others. Instead, he lived to give more than he took.
Sometimes our insecurities push us into tax-collecting ways. We expect others to give us the confidence, the understanding, the security we need. We can take our tax-collecting postures until Jesus looks us in the face. He reminds us that when we let others supply what should come first from him, we stay needy. We have the same opportunity Jesus gave Matthew. We can leave our tax-collecting folly to follow him into a deeper security we can't know any other way.
BURNING QUESTIONS
1. Where do you take more than you give?
2. What do you need to leave behind in order to follow Jesus today?
AFFIRMATION
When I am in need, Jesus is my first responder.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Promise-keeping Lord, protect me from taking from others what you have promised to give more generously.
Posted in Lent