Mark

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NASB	Mark 2:14 As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax booth, and He *said to him, "Follow Me!" And he got up and followed Him.
AMPLIFIED 2015 2015	Mark 2:14 As He was passing by, He saw Levi (Matthew) the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax collector's booth, and He said to him, "Follow Me [as My disciple, accepting Me as your Master and Teacher and walking the same path of life that I walk]." And he got up and followed Him [becoming His disciple, believing and trusting in Him and following His example]. [Matt 9:9-17; Luke 5:27-39]

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Bible Question (short): Comments on this reading?

Question (full): Does anyone have any comments on this daily devotional which is as always from www.forwardmovement.org?

WEDNESDAY, July 18

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Mark 2:13-22. He said to him, �Follow me.� And he got up and followed him

Levi, also known as Matthew, had no reason to expect Jesus to even talk to him, much less call him as a follower and disciple. As a tax collector, a Jew working for the Roman government, he was an extortionist, a pariah, a traitor, and a sinner. That stigma may even have stuck to him well into his career as an apostle. Tradition says he traveled to India where he told the good news of Jesus Christ. Maybe that's how far he had to go to find people who saw who he was rather than who he had been.

Ours is still not a forgiving society. Men and women who commit a crime may pay their debt to society, but it is rarely forgotten or forgiven. No wonder we don't want to admit to our own sins, much less confess them. If we can point to other people's sins, maybe no one will notice our own. Guess what? Jesus had more patience with public sinners than with people who supposed themselves to be righteous. We are all sinners, and God loves us. When we admit the one and believe the other, we will be able to hear Jesus Christ say, �Follow me,� and in surprise, gratitude, and delight, get up and follow him.

Ps 38; 1 Samuel 20:1-23; Acts 12:18-25

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