#29 Luke 5:27-31 Follow Me

On July 25, 2021 by

Joy:
Episode#29 Luke 5:27-31

Welcome

Amy:
Welcome to The Christgazing Podcast. We are so glad you’re here. I’m Amy Burgin.

Joy:
I’m Joy Burgin

Amy:
Christgazing is the act of looking steadily and intently at Christ and we believe there is nothing more beautiful to gaze upon than him. We believe his love for you is high, wide, deep, and long. We believe he longs for you to know his love and he speaks personally to those who seek him. We believe his words are the best words to hear and know. Therefore, we offer this weekly podcast where Joy reads a passage from the Bible several times and creates stillness after each reading to create space for you to have a living conversation with God.  

We are in a series that takes us through the book of Luke focusing on what Jesus said and did when he walked the earth. In the last episode, four men made a hole in roof of a crowded house and lowered their paralyzed friend on a mat in front of Jesus. Jesus, seeing their faith, forgave the man’s sins and healed him. The man picked up what he had been lying on and left praising God. Everyone was amazed. In today’s episode, we see what happens after that.

Pour Out Your Heart to God

Amy:
Before Joy reads it, take the next minute to pour out your heart to God whether it be thanksgiving, bitterness, forgiveness, fear, a long to-do list, or nothing to do. Whatever is on your mind, name it, and bring it to the Lord in these next few moments.

[Pause and pour out]

What Does This Passage Say About God?

Joy:
I’m going to read today’s passage two times. As I read, consider the question, What does this passage say about God?

Luke 5:27-31 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.”

Again?

Luke 5:27-31After 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.”

Take the next few moments to answer the question, what does this passage tell you about God?

[Pause and know]

What Does This Passage Say About People?

Joy:
As I read the scripture again, consider the question: What does this passage tell you about people?  

Luke 5:27-31After 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.”

Take the next minute to answer the question: What does this passage tell you about people?

[Pause and know]

Lord, What Would You Have Me Know or Do Today?

Joy:
As I read for the last time, ask God the question, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today in response to this passage?”

Luke 5:27-31After 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.”

Take time to ask God, “Lord, what would have me know or do today?”

[Pause and listen]

Blessing

Joy:
Christgazer, the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. May you keep your face turned toward Jesus today and follow him.

One Response

Amy:
Again today, Jesus finds the religious leaders grumbling and questioning him, “Why do you associate with sinners?” they ask.

I remember what Jesus asked them in the last episode, “Why are you thinking these things in your heart?”  It’s such an important question. It’s one of the first questions God asked of man in the beginning. Before Cain killed Abel, God asked him, “Cain, why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?”

How easy it is to go through life without stopping to wonder why we think what we think, why we say what we say, why we do what we do!

Why did the religious leaders grumble when Jesus and his disciples associated with sinners? Was it not because they regarded themselves more highly than they should, better than others? Was it not because they had an “us vs. them” mentality? Was it not because they lacked love for people? Was it not because they were blind to their own sin? How far blind pride keeps one from repentance that leads to salvation.

Praise God, we don’t have to be so blind. We can pray with the Psalmist, where he says in Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Closing

Amy:
Learning to ask myself why I thought the things I thought led me to the knowledge of my need for a savior. If you care to read more about that, I have a link to that aspect of my testimony (click here) in the transcript of this episode at amyburgin.com. Joy and I will be back again next week to go Christgazing together. Until then, don’t forget, when you put your trust in Christ, you are one in whom he dwells and delights, a dearly loved child of God. You are royalty in his strong and unshakeable kingdom. Though trouble abounds, Christ prevails and so do you.

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