UPDATED Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought is an updated version of AMI QT Devotional first posted on August 17, 2013.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Our Response to Jesus”

Luke 5:27-32

After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And leaving everything, he rose and followed him. 29 And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. 30 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

I would like share two thoughts from this passage.

First, not everyone immediately responded to Jesus’ call, but when they did, they responded immediately—no time was wasted.  It seems to me that when God calls, we can take our time (mostly while procrastinating) or immediately reply.  What will be your response to God today?   “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:1).

Second, who doesn’t know that it is not the healthy who needs a doctor but the sick (v. 31)?  Nevertheless, because the religious leaders of Jesus’ days, believing their own press release, saw themselves as righteous in their own eyes, they did not see their need for healing.  It seems like Jesus healed more people physically than spiritual.  Was it because humans are more acutely aware of their physical maladies than their impoverished spiritual condition?   Could it be that Levi was aware of his spiritual brokenness since his work of collecting taxes involved dishonesty and serving the interest of the Romans?  

May our sins awaken us to the true reality of our spiritual condition so that we may cry out to Jesus the Savior.  

Prayer: Jesus, help me to cry out to you; Lord, help me to respond to your call immediately.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 12