Luke 5:27-32 NIV
“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. Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.””
Tax collector was a good job with good income. They had power and money. Levi, also called Matthew (Matt 9:9) was a tax collector. When Jesus called him, Levi left everything and followed him. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.“ Levi arranged a big banquet to celebrate the changes he had made. “Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.” At that time, Tax collectors were dishonest people, they were only concern about their personal gain. Those self-righteous Pharisees saw them as bad people, the sinners. People should not have any association with these tax collectors. However, Jesus gave them a straight forward answer, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” The love and acceptance of God are fully demonstrated.
After we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, did we celebrate and tell our families and friends that we have made the decision to follow Christ?
In our daily life, we meet Christians and not-yet-Christians. Do we intentionally connect with those not-yet-Christians? Church is a faith community, community with Love. Through caring, encouragement, acceptance, we support and build the community. These are the ways to extend the Love of God that people may know that there is hope in their lives. The salvation through Jesus Christ is for all mankind, repentance is the key. We should not lay down blocks which hinder people to have access to Jesus Christ. We should be missional that doing all possible things for the sake of the gospel.