Today's Passage - Luke 5:27-32

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Luke 5:27-32 "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.'"   Jesus was glad to befriend with tax collectors and sinners; Pharisees back then, and even we in today's world, might see that as a terrible thing. When Jesus passed by Jerusalem, He often wept for that city. When you see sinners gather, or pass by areas that are filthy and poor in the city, you usually wouldn't want to stop, but to pass through as quickly as possible. Jesus, however, was glad to be close to the sinners, and He even sat and ate with the tax collectors. Why did He do that? It's because of God's mercy. When He saw how people were miserable in sin, He wanted to save the sinners and help those in illness and pain. It might be hard for the Christians living in North America to imagine what would happen if a beggar comes to our gathering. What would our reaction be? We might feel annoyed and wanted him to leave at once, or even give him a few dollars to send him off on his way. We don't have the Lord's mercy and we seldom want to save those who are in need, therefore Jesus said "it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick."   The Lord said that "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Is there anyone who's sinless in this world? No, but there are many those think they have not sinned. Why did the Lord often rebuke the self-righteous people so harshly? Actually, the Lord also wept for them, because they were the ones who really needed salvation but they often turned it down. Many have come to church because they enjoy the atmosphere, preaching and music of the meetings, but their hearts are not drawn to the Lord. Faith is only a side business in life and something to do on Sunday in order for them to enjoy having their heart and soul lifted. We really need to come before God to truly repent, and bring our heart before Him again, just like how Mark responded to God's calling, got up, followed the Lord and received new life. We need to follow the examples of Mark and Levi, put down all we have to follow the Lord.     Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, I thank you because you came to save the sinners. May the Lord open our eyes and help us to see our needs inside. Let us leave everything behind to follow you like what Levi did. May you be the Lord of our life, and let our life be filled with your grace and manifest your glory. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!