As we read the next passage of Luke, watch the reaction and feel the attitude of all the people around Jesus, looking on, judging and wondering, surmising as He chooses the most unlikely to join His team.

Luke 5, The Message
27-28 After this he went out and saw a man named Levi at his work collecting taxes. Jesus said, “Come along with me.” And he did—walked away from everything and went with him.

29-30 Levi gave a large dinner at his home for Jesus. Everybody was there, tax men and other disreputable characters as guests at the dinner. The Pharisees and their religion scholars came to his disciples greatly offended. “What is he doing eating and drinking with crooks and ‘sinners’?”

31-32 Jesus heard about it and spoke up, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting outsiders, not insiders—an invitation to a changed life, changed inside and out.”

Jesus saw something in Levi that no one else saw. Jesus sees that same something in you and I.

Read as the judgement goes on because the church leaders missed the point…again. (Uh, oh, I think someone’s angry because they were not invited to the party.)

33 They asked him, “John’s disciples are well-known for keeping fasts and saying prayers. Also the Pharisees. But you seem to spend most of your time at parties. Why?”

34-35 Jesus said, “When you’re celebrating a wedding, you don’t skimp on the cake and wine. You feast. Later you may need to pull in your belt, but this isn’t the time. As long as the bride and groom are with you, you have a good time. When the groom is gone, the fasting can begin. No one throws cold water on a friendly bonfire. This is Kingdom Come!

36-39 “No one cuts up a fine silk scarf to patch old work clothes; you want fabrics that match. And you don’t put wine in old, cracked bottles; you get strong, clean bottles for your fresh vintage wine. And no one who has ever tasted fine aged wine prefers unaged wine.”

There will always be humans who will throw a wet blanket on our fire and joy of being chosen to walk with Jesus as we choose to follow Him wherever He asks us to go. Don’t allow others to govern your life and steal your joy. Pray for them. Let God take care of them in His own way, for they might be on the list to be chosen, too, later as they surrender to HIm.

On this day, this chosen Good Friday, as we call it in the church world, be still and know God. Revel in what He has gone through for us. Know that He lives indeed. Know that He loves you and I with more love than we can imagine! We are not only chosen but redeemed! Meditate on this.

My prayer goes deep for all of you who take the time to read this every day as we listen to God speak with us. I pray that you may have joy and peace knowing that YOU have been selected by the KING of kings and LORD of lords to be completely His. How great is that? How GREAT is our GOD? Sing with me…How Great is Our God…

Dear Heavenly Father, My heart is so full of peace and joy at this moment as I lift up my family, friends and even our bullies to you. Bless these readers who join with me each morning to enter into Your Presence to learn from You, be guided by You and to gain strength from You. Continue to be with us as we meditate on what You have done for us, are still doing and will do when You come back again for us. Thank you, Lord.
In Jesus Name, Amen