Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

14As he walked along, he saw Levi
son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax
collector's booth. "Follow me," Jesus
told him, and Levi got up and followed him.

15While Jesus was having dinner
at Levi's house, many tax collectors
and "sinners" were eating with him
and his disciples, for there were many
who followed him. 16When the teachers
of the law who were Pharisees saw him
eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors,
they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat
with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"

17On hearing this, Jesus said to them,
"It is not the healthy who need a doctor,
but the sick. I have not come to call the
righteous, but sinners."
Mark 2:14-17 (New International Version)

Reflection:

Boy what an account for us to read.  It speaks directly
to each one of us. 
Here we see Christ having contact with a person who
was considered to be the lowest of lows, a tax collector.
Can you even imagine the "King of Kings" associating
with such an individual.  
What does that tell you and I when the one we choose to
follow in our life, the one who is our mentor, the one who
gave us life, chooses to connect with the lowly? 
It tells us that Jesus Christ does not worry about what we
have done in the past, that all is forgiven. He just wants
us to follow Him.  Levi (Matthew) became one of His
apostles.  He had a very sad and sinful past.  He robbed
from others, he cheated others.  But Jesus wanted him
anyway, because Christ had faith in him.
Matthew went on to tell many people about this man
called Jesus who had such faith in him, Matthew the
lowest of low. 
IF JESUS CHRIST CAN HAVE FAITH IN MATTHEW,
HE CAN HAVE FAITH IN YOU!
CHRIST LOVES YOU MY FRIENDS, JUST FOLLOW
HIM.

This is from a dialogue adapted from
the movie,"Facing The Giants", written
by Alex Kenrick.  See if it speaks to you.

(Mr. Bridges)
"Revelation chapter three says, ' We serve a God
that opens doors that no one can shut, and shuts
doors that no one can open".  He says, "Behold
I have placed before you and open door that no
one can shut, I know you have a little strength
yet you have kept my word and have not denied
my name." (Revelation chapter 3)  "Coach Taylor
The Lord is not through with you yet.  You still
have an open door here and until the Lord moves
you, you're to bloom right where you're planted."

(Coach)
"I admit to you I've been struggling, but I've also
been praying, I just don't see Him at work here."

(Mr. Bridges)
"I heard a story about two farmers who
desperately needed rain. Both prayed
for rain, but only one of them went out and
prepared his fields to receive it.  Which one do
you think trusted God to send the rain?"

(Coach)
"Well the one who prepared his fields for it."

(Mr. Bridges)
WHICH ONE ARE YOU?  GOD WILL SEND
THE RAIN WHEN HE IS READY. YOU NEED
TO PREPARE THE FIELD TO RECEIVE IT !

I was driving when I saw the flash of a
traffic camera.  I figured that my picture
had been taken for exceeding the limit,
even though I knew that I was not speeding.

Just to be sure, I went around the block
and passed the same spot, driving even more
slowly, but again the camera flashed.

Now I began to think that this was quite funny,
so I drove even slower as I passed the area
once more, but the traffic camera again flashed.

I tried a fourth and fifth time with the same
results and was now laughing as the camera
flashed while I rolled past at a snail's pace.

Two weeks later, I got five tickets in the mail
for driving without a seat belt.

YOU KNOW.....YOU JUST CAN'T FIX STUPID....