Episode 1088 - Jarvis Kingston Following Jesus requires us to leave behind our old lives and embrace a new identity in Him. Matthew 16:24 !

Jarvis Kingston

Your Daily Prayer 🙏🏾 Mark 2:4
The world needs Jesus more than it needs anything else. Jesus is the answer.
Today’s Sunday Service with Mike Hilson reflects on the story of Levi, which illustrates the life-changing call to follow Jesus. When Jesus invited Levi, a despised tax collector, to follow him, Levi immediately left everything behind. This account challenges us to reflect on our own response to Jesus’ call and the transformation it brings.
STORY
Sunday Service with Mike Hilson
Scripture
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Matthew 16:24
In Luke 5:27-32, we see Jesus call Levi, a tax collector, to follow Him. Levi leaves everything behind, showing the transformative power of Jesus' call. This story highlights three key aspects: the call to transformation, the community of believers, and the commission to spread the Gospel.
Jesus' invitation to "Follow me" challenges us to leave behind our old lives and embrace a new identity in Him. Levi's immediate response, abandoning his wealth and comfort, shows the depth of commitment required.
Levi's banquet for Jesus and other tax collectors represents his new community in Christ. It also demonstrates our role in sharing the Gospel with those in our previous circles. As Christians, we are called to invite others into this faith community, extending the love of Christ beyond our comfort zones.
The Pharisees criticized Jesus for associating with sinners, but Jesus emphasized His mission to call sinners to repentance. This underscores our commission to reach out to those who need a Savior despite potential rejection or misunderstanding. We are to prioritize the gospel's mission, sharing hope with the lost.
Levi's story invites us to reflect on our own responses to Jesus' call. Are we willing to transform, join the community of believers, and commit to the mission of spreading the Gospel? May we, like Levi, say "yes" to Jesus and bring His light into every aspect of our lives.
REFLECTION
Following Jesus requires us to leave behind our old lives and embrace a new identity in Him. Levi’s story reminds us that being a disciple involves both personal transformation and inviting others into the community of faith. It also challenges us to share the gospel with those around us, no matter the cost.
As we consider Levi’s example, let us ask ourselves if we are ready to follow Jesus with the same dedication and share His love with others.
PRAYER
“And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.”
MARK 2:4
As I ponder and meditate on Mark 2 and Matthew 9, I stand in awe of how the two stories connect. In the same way that the friends got to Jesus in unconventional ways, so too did the outcasts, misfits, and tax collectors get to Jesus in an unconventional way. Jesus, may this story and Your life serve as a reminder that You came to heal all that are lost and in need of healing both physically and more importantly, spiritually. No matter what their condition, I am committing my life to be able to be a helping hand to those in need of Your forgiveness and grace. I will not look to title or economic standing to determine the passion of my pursuit, I will rip a whole through a roof, push through a crowd, or sit with those forgotten if it means they receive their breakthrough and healing. Thank You in advance for using me to lend a helping hand to people that are hurting! In Jesus Name…In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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