Becoming a Mature Christian 5

Luke 5:27-32 

Jesus called some working class folk to join him, but he also called some who were more upper class.  Tax collectors were in a position to get wealthy legally by charging what they determined the populace could bear in taxes.  A situation not dissimilar to extremely wealthy executives benefiting from their companies charging ‘what the market will bear.’ In Jesus’ time, a tax collector was the epitome of greed.  Levi was moved by Jesus to leave his former life and follow Jesus’ way, a way that rejected greed as an modus operandi.  Levi didn’t, however, leave all his tax collecting social circle behind.  He gave a great banquet and invited his friends to also meet Jesus.  We are not told if any other tax collectors changed their ways but perhaps they did.  Surely one sign of a mature person is having the confidence in yourself and your beliefs to invite others to join you. The invitation needs to acknowledge the comfort level of those being invited.  You can only move towards salvation starting from where you are.  Jesus knew this so he taught at extravagant banquet tables as well as hillside picnics. 

If you have been able to make some positive changes in your life, in how you speak, act, and relate to others, who can you invite to make those changes too?  How can you help that invitation to be received? 

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