It's Who You Follow

Luke 5:27-28"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. And he left all, rose up, and followed him."

It's Who You Follow

Here in Luke, we read a very streamlined account of the day Levi the publican left all to follow Jesus. Jesus saw Levi and said, "Follow me." We don't know how Levi came to his decision; the Bible simply says, "He left all, rose up, and followed him." Though the verses are short and succinct, they describe a life-changing day in the life of this man!

Let's take a look at who Levi was. Verse 27 tells us that he was a publican. Publicans were despised in Jesus' day, and for good reason. They were viewed as Jewish turncoats who changed their alliance to the oppressive Roman government. They were hired by Rome to swindle as much money as possible from their own people through taxes. They were known to be backstabbing, selfish cheats who would do anything to get ahead. How interesting that Jesus chose to call a man like Levi!

Do you realize how strong the pull of money would have been for Levi? He had turned his back on his own country and people-not to mention his own integrity-to be a publican. It is truly amazing what people will do today to give their lives meaning. People all around us are following empty, futile, and even destructive things just to find meaning in their lives. And yet when the Lord Jesus walked into his life, Levi found what He had been looking for. He "left all, rose up, and followed him." You see, it is not what you have but who you follow that gives meaning to your life.

Levi followed someone worth living for. He found in Christ the purpose of his life. No longer did he live for material gain-now he lived for eternal gain. No longer was his life about taking-now it was about giving. This meeting with Jesus at the "receipt of custom" that day completely changed the course of Levi's life!

Levi followed someone worth speaking for. Levi the publican is the man we know as Matthew the disciple. God used him to write the Gospel of Matthew. In the book of Matthew, you repeatedly find references to the deity and kingship of Christ. Under inspiration, Matthew records the very words of the Lord Jesus, which point to the truth that He is the Messiah and that He is truly God. The Gospel of Matthew is a compelling challenge, especially to the Jewish people.

It would seem like God could have called Levi to witness to the Romans, but certainly not to the Jews. But in fact, that is exactly what God did! What a testament to how dramatically God can change a life! He made a man that had been a traitor to his own people into a man that proclaimed the gospel to his people.

Levi followed someone worth dying for. Though we may not know the exact details of Levi's death, we do know that he was martyred for his faith in Christ. He found in Christ truth and purpose so compelling that he was willing to follow Christ to his death.

It was not what Levi had but who he followed that made his life important. We are able to read his story centuries later because of the day Levi "left all, rose up, and followed him."


Prayer Requests:
1. New York City Evangelistic Outreach this week (Jan. 5-9)
2. Revival services tonight in Delray Beach, FL

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