Yesterday morning (Tuesday, April 29th), my meditation upon Scriptures was in Luke’s gospel, chapter 5, verses 27 – 31. This is the wonderful story of Levi the tax collector getting a call from Heaven! The context of Luke chapter 5, among other teaching points of Jesus spread throughout, is the calling of His disciples.

Jesus had just healed the paralytic after responding to the faith of the paralytic’s friends who had gone to the extent of removing the tiles of the house where Jesus was teaching, to bring this man – on his bed – before Jesus for healing.

In Levi’s calling, Jesus sought him out. The grace of God was appearing to Levi. He sees Levi in the tax collector’s office, and issues a two-worded call, “Follow Me”. And Levi’s response? He leaves all, rises up, and follows Jesus. Not for him the Americanisms of “who me?”, “you sure about this, Jesus?”. He left All. He rose Up. He followed Jesus.

Such is the call of Jesus that when a heart hears the Voice, the same Voice that called Light into a new world that God was creating (Gen 1), this glorious word of God’s express radiance (Heb 1) had all of God and His power in it to bring about an immediate and radical obedience from Levi.

This radical obedience transformed Levi the tax collector into Levi, the generous giver. He responds to Jesus’ calling word and throws a feast FOR Jesus. He just must share this glorious Person with his fellow tax collectors and sinners. What an evidence of a soul set free by Jesus, the Living Word!

To follow Jesus is a life of adventure. Adventure is risky. But the same Jesus who went looking for Levi, promised His presence with all who are called to be His through the gospel. Through the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are called to be His. And through the Spirit poured out upon all who obey this glorious gospel, we are united with Him, and in union with Him. We live by faith, we walk in the Spirit, and all is of grace. What a deal! How can we not live for Jesus every day? Today IS the day of Salvation. And Salvation is Jesus. Not a religion. Not a book. Not a place of worship. Jesus, the very express radiance of God, who brings God close and near to each one who calls upon His name, is Salvation. Call for Him, hear His voice. Enjoy Him.