Levi

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

When most people hear the phrase, ‘to follow someone’, they often think about following someone on some social media platform. They want to know what that person is doing as much as possible, but only from a distance.

In following someone on social media, it does not require much effort, and no change in a person’s life. There is only a few clicks involved.

Jesus saw a tax collector, Levi, sitting at his job. Jesus tells him to follow Him. Levi gets up, leaves everything and follows Him.

Following Jesus is often very similar to following someone on social media. People claim to believe in and follow Jesus, but never make any real changes to their lives.

Yes, they go to church, but only to get something out of it, not to build others up. Their bible sits on a shelf, only to be dusted off for a church service. They continue to live in a life of sin. It is rare to never that they tell someone about Jesus.

The question comes up as to whether they are really following Jesus or not. Following Jesus must mean a change. Jesus came to change lives, not just have a social gathering online in word only, but not in real life. He came to save the world, not just get some likes.

In the same way that Matthew got up and left everything behind to follow Jesus, every believer must be willing to do the same. He must allow Jesus to be Lord and Master of his life, in every area of his life.

If you have chosen to follow Jesus, ask yourself how are you following Jesus. Are you following Jesus just like following someone on a social media platform? Or are you leaving everything behind and giving it your all to follow Him?

God has great things in store for your life, but you must be willing to trust Him and follow Jesus with everything in you. Do not hold anything back from God, but give Him it all. Jesus is ready to build you and use you in great ways, when you allow Him to do so.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will follow Jesus with all of your life; that you will allow God to change your life; and that you will be willing to leave everything to follow and obey Jesus.

As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. Mark 2:14

People often do not like major change in their lives. They like things to always remain the same. Many, however, will jump onto something new and popular, often because everyone else is doing it.

A new fashion fad comes out being promoted by some famous person, and suddenly everyone is doing it. They are quick to drop the old ways for the new fashion.

As Jesus was walking along one day, He goes up to Levi and tells him to follow Him. Levi immediately gets up, leaves his work and follows Jesus.

While many people are quick to change ways and follow a new fad in this world, it is not as popular with following Jesus. He is still going around telling people to follow Him.

Many do not want to follow Jesus, because it means major change. In order to follow Jesus it means one has to leave his past behind, get up and follow Him. One is not to hold onto the past and say they are following, staying in sin and sinful ways, but to leave it all behind.

Just as Levi got up and left behind a lucrative business, people are to leave behind the things of this world to follow Jesus. This may or may not mean a change of a job, but it does mean leaving sin behind. It will mean a change in activities and friends. It is going wherever Jesus is leading, with no questions being asked.

God will always lead a person on a new path, when he begins to follow Jesus. This path is a new path of a full, abundant life that goes into eternity.

Jesus is also calling you to follow Him on the path He has for you. It is more than just words, but will require some change and sacrifice upon your part to follow Him.

God does not call you to follow without some change. You cannot stay where you are, physically, emotionally or spiritually, and still follow Jesus. You have to get up, leave the past behind and follow Him. Become the new creation God is making you to be.

Are you willing to follow Jesus today? Or will you stay where you are in this fallen world?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will hear God’s call to follow Him; that God will give you strength and direction to leave your past behind to follow Him; and that you will know all God has for you.