The other day I was reading a part of the Bible I have read many times before, heard preached in church and probably discussed it in a Bible study. But at this particular point in my life, as I am preparing to leave behind my life in NY to pursue my calling to New Zealand, it hit me a very real way. Its the part in Luke where Jesus calls Levi the tax-collector to join his team and Levi's response got me. (Luke 5:27-28) "... Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, 28and Levi got up, left everything and followed him."
I am no Bible commentator but I understand that the way Jesus calls together his team of followers is amazing. Culturally, a teacher or "Rabbi" (in this case, Jesus) asks someone to be their disciple or student bc they have demonstrated their excellence. But Jesus calls these guys who were not exceptional; they had missed that mark when they were young. Thus, why they had trade jobs and weren't already following a Rabbi. But Jesus aka "Rabbi" asked them to be his disciples. That first part is important and amazing, but its the next part that is quoted onto a 3x5 card sticky-tacked to my wall: (28) "and Levi got up, left everything and followed him." WHOA. Did you catch that?
... Levi's response? The Bible just says "he got up, left everything and followed him." (28) Wow. HE LEFT EVERYTHING and followed Jesus. His career, calendar, family, home, reputation, ties to your hometown (good and bad), everything that you have built your entire life, and follow me.He left everything behind and followed Jesus. Wow. I am sure this is so much more complex than these few lines allow us to see. I am sure BOOKS could be written about the stories that fall between those two lines. But all we know is that Jesus called him and he left it all to pursue God. Incredible. I can't imagine leaving it ALL behind with no plans of return. My heart feels close to Levi's as I am preparing to leave it all behind for 2 years to follow Jesus.
I will follow you to the ends of the earth, Lord, lead me on.
