November 21 – Jesus Calls His Disciples – Luke 5
Jesus calls Peter, James, John, and Levi (Matthew) to be His disciples in this chapter. Before Jesus calls Peter, James, and John to be His disciples, He performed a fantastic miracle for them. Jesus asks Peter to push out away from shore and throw his nets into the water. What makes this an unusual request was the facts that Peter was a professional fisherman, and he had fished all night without catching anything. This miracle relied on the action of the recipient of the miracle. It was Peter’s action of faith that made the miracle complete. Our miracles will only occur to the same extent as our actions of faith. In reality, we limit ourselves.
When Jesus called Levi (Matthew) to be His disciple, He just spoke the words “follow me.” Jesus did nothing personal for Levi. Jesus just invited Levi to forsake everything and follow Him. Jesus was criticized greatly for His choice in Levi as His disciple, but Jesus saw great value in Levi, a publican. Jesus not only loves you, but sees great value in your current state. We are all sinners, and do not deserve to be ambassadors of a Holy God. Aren’t you glad Jesus chooses sinners and publicans to be in His elite squad of disciples? Praise the Lord, we get to be an ambassador of Jesus Christ! How could I not serve Christ?
