Today's Verse: Luke 5:27 (KJV)

Friday, May 27, 2016

And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, "Follow me."
— Luke 5:27 (KJV)
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Thoughts on Today's Verse...

After capturing the hearts of the crowd, Jesus now calls another disciple, Levi - also known as Matthew. Two things are significant about this calling.
  1. Jesus called someone no other religious leader would have chosen, a tax collector and Roman sympathizer - to any Jew of Jesus' era, Matthew would have seemed very much like a traitor to his heritage and to his faith.
  2. Levi, this tax collector, followed Jesus, leaving behind his livelihood and his fortune.
Jesus' call of Matthew and Matthew's definitive and immediate response to follow Jesus provide us a powerful reminder that we should write off no one as unreachable with the Gospel or unusable by our Lord.

My Prayer...

Father of all people, help us recognize the people you place in our paths today who are ready to know more about Jesus. Please give us the wisdom and the awareness to know when and how to speak with them about our Savior. We also ask, dear Father, for you to forgive us for the times we have come to a snap judgment about the unworthiness of some people who seem least likely to become disciples. We know that Jesus came to seek and save all who are lost, so please use the Holy Spirit to fashion our hearts to reflect the heart of our Lord and Savior, in whose name we pray. Amen.

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4 Related Resources by Heartlight

Follow Me
Illustration of Luke 5:27
Inspirational illustration of Luke 5:27 -- 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.
True Healing
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Friend, To be My disciple means that you are committed to following in My footsteps. You come to Me, recognizing your need for healing grace..."
Jesus' Sense of Mission
Devo: What Jesus Did!
"Later, as Jesus left [Capernaum], he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector's booth. "Follow me and be my disciple," Jesus said....."
Reason to Smile
Article by Rubel Shelly
What such a dour and serious face? Rubel Shelly reminds us that being dour doesn't help any of us make disciples or friends.

Illustration

Illustration of Luke 5:27 (KJV) — And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, "Follow me."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Friday, May 27, 2016

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'God's Word Comes by the Spirit' (Zc. 7:12)
"[After the return of the people of Judah from Babylon, this is what the Lord said about them,] "They made their hearts as hard as stone, so they could not hear...."
Daily Wisdom
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1 John 1:7
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."
Passion for Praise
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'My Soul Thirsts for You' (Ps. 63:1-2)
"O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is...."

About This Devotional

Today's Verse is a free daily devotional that includes a Bible verse, thought and prayer.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

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