Mission and Vision Part 5: BECOME
Breath deep today.
God is with you today. And, he is speaking to you. Remind yourself of the campfire scene that we walked upon yesterday.
Now, add others to the campfire. You may be surprised by who is invited. Think of the person you have recently had the most conflict with. They’re invited. Think of the person with whom you disagree politically with. They’re invited.
Read out loud:
27 Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. 28 So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.
Luke 5:27–28 (NLT)
Levi was (understandably) despised by many around him. He had joined with the Romans and extracted heavy taxes from his fellow Jews. As one author said (who I can’t recall at the moment), “Levi had cracked a few Jewish shins” in order to perform his job.
And, he was called to be among the disciples.
Now, picture your (real or perceived) enemy across you at the fire. They are here for the same reason you are: Jesus.
Not all who are invited will come into the safe and transformative campfire, but we are to allow Jesus to change our hearts so we are ready for them when they accept the invitation to join Jesus’ band of apprentices.
Say this prayer:
Lord, I thank you for the invitation to be here.
Help me to see people like you see them.
Help me to extend the same grace I have been given.
Amen.
Next week, we will begin our series through the book of Galatians. I encourage you to read through it. See you soon!
