Devotional - March 22, 2004

Levi was the disciple who would have never been voted "Most Popular" among the group. Also called Matthew, he wasn't sought out by John the Baptist or the Pharisees to become one of their disciples. Jesus however, saw in Matthew great potential. He walked up to his tax collection booth and invited him to drop everything and follow him.

To say Matthew wasn't liked very much is an understatement. It wasn't his character that was despised but what he did and how he did it. He was a tax collector by trade, some might say a government-sanctioned thief . That's because this Jew worked for the Romans and made his living by taking money from his own people, most of whom didn't have much. Tax collectors were compensated by 100% commission. That is, their salary consisted of what they charged above standard tax rates.

You can understand why Matthew didn't have any friends unless you called his fellow tax collection agents his friends. What's worse than one tax man at a party? Answer: why a whole bunch of them standing around joking and sharing stories how they take advantage of people just like you. That's the scene where we find Jesus receiving questions about his disciple-choosing method.

What would make someone like a tax man leave his job behind and follow Jesus with men he had robbed? For a while I imagine all eyes were fixed on him wondering if Jesus would ask him to be the keeper of the group's shared money. But we know that job went to Judas. Jesus had a much higher goal in mind for Matthew than handling money.

I imagine you feel like Matthew sometime. People don't act like they care for you and you're in no one's inner circle of friends. Plus, whenever something goes wrong, it seems everyone looks at you expecting somehow you're to blame.

If that example sounds like you, take comfort in the knowledge that Jesus is not only the friend of sinners, He can be your personal friend. He's not ashamed of you, nor does he wish you harm. Instead, he has a wonderful plan for your life and requires only one thing: "Follow me."

David knew he didn't deserve God's friendship. He wrote in Psalm 65:4, "When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions. Blessed is the man you choose and bring near to live in your courts!"

The first prerequisite of being a disciple is learning how to be a friend to sinners. David knew he was a repeat offender when it came to sin, but more importantly he knew God understood, would forgive him and refuse to hold it against him if he confessed it.

Why not be a friend like that to someone who doesn't have any true friends? It's a great way to introduce Jesus to them. That is, by the way the second prerequisite to being a disciple: telling others about Jesus' love.