"I'd love to give that Levi fellow a piece of my mind, but he's dangerously cozy with the powerful Roman Government. I'll have to keep my mouth shut. He's got his little tax booth there with his big money chest and all his ledgers. He collects taxes on everything. Road tolls, town dues, imports and exports, taxes on axles and wheels, admission to markets, pack animals, licenses for just about everything. I'm sure he invents taxes and penalties to charge us - just like all the other Telones – tax collectors, publicans or whatever you want to call them! It's not just the money that he pockets himself but it infuriates me that every time we pass by his booth, we have to unload and unpack everything. Every bale and every package .. Well, he noses his way through everything, even our private letters."

But recently, in Capernaum, there had been quite a stir. A Man called Jesus was doing amazing things. Frowning townsfolk were being changed into happy people. Physically challenged teenagers were healed. Visually challenged women had their sight restored. The hearing impaired could now hear a pin drop. Not too long ago, several bigwigs in the fishing industry packed it all in, called it quits, and happily followed Jesus.

Levi, the hated tax collector, the little Telones, must have been aware of the positive upheaval in his town. Did he desire to have his wicked grin replaced with a peaceful smile and satisfaction within? But he was the scum of the earth, the bottom-of-the-barrel type of person – the least loved person in the town. Jesus wouldn’t bother with him.

And then it happened.

The Lord Jesus was approaching the toll booth. Levi was sitting in his usual spot. The chest lid was open, and the money was piling up. Jesus looked at the booth and into the booth. What a moment when their eyes connected! I wonder if there was a rush – a surge of excitement deep within Levi’s chest. And then the lips of the Master started to form words. I wonder if someone in the crowd asked: “Shhh! What was it He said? I am sure I heard Him say to that Telones – ‘Follow Me!'”  “No,” another may have responded, “it couldn’t be! He would never want a scoundrel like that among His followers!”  The other said: “But I’m sure that’s what He said. I could read His lips.”

Sure enough, Levi starts to move. He stands up from his office chair. Closes the cash chest. Locks up the booth. Steps away from it. He walks towards Jesus. And then Jesus started talking again, and guess who was following Him? Levi! He left everything behind and started his life-long walk with the Lord. He responded to the Master’s call and command: “Follow Me.”

And as He passed by, He saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed Him. Mark 2:14

Do you think Levi (or as we know him, Matthew) had any regrets that he left it all behind to follow the Lord? That same wicked scoundrel, by the grace of God and the transforming power of Christ, later wrote the first of the four Gospels – Matthew. He wrote about Christ the King. He would never forget that day when he stepped down off not only the stool in the booth but also down off the throne of his heart. The day he crowned Christ as the King of his life. No longer would he reign and rule in his life – Christ would reign forever.

Have you ever responded to His command: “Follow Me?” Are you willing to get up off the stool you’ve been sitting on? Are you willing to step down off the throne of your heart and crown Christ as King or Lord of your life? Who are you following today – your own instincts, your own desires? Are you ready to surrender to Christ and follow Him?

Take two minutes to click on this link and get a great song in your head and heart.

Don’t hesitate to share a thought from your personal experience or a verse that has been a blessing to you –  in the comment section below. Or, if you would like to reach out privately, click below.