Today's Scripture:

Luke 5:27-32 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Read: Reflect on a story in your life that pertains to this scripture.
What boldly stood out to me in this scripture was Levi’s response to Jesus when asked to, “Follow me.” Levi immediately left everything: his job, his stand, his position, his life to follow Jesus. It is an admirable and inspiring picture of devotion. Levi left behind his past life, full of sin, to pursue Jesus’ calling. This scripture goes hand in hand with Luke 9:23, “And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’” Levi left behind worldly pleasures, a life full of lavish things, to follow the only one who could give him true salvation.

Reflect: What is this scripture telling you during this season?
Before giving my life to Christ, I was faced with many challenges in my life, and I was unsure of what to do all the time. I didn’t know what to feel, and I didn't know why it was happening to me. I was constantly asking God for an answer to all my “whys.” I can recognize now that all of those difficult moments led to full surrender to Him, and that all my tears and hurt could only be healed by Jesus. It took all those trials in my life for me to accept Him in my heart, so that He could heal me. If I had to do it again, to experience His goodness, I would do it a million times over again.

Respond: How is this scripture calling you to respond?
This feels so incredibly encouraging to me, to pursue Christ with joy, hosting a great feast when He calls me to follow Him. There are times when I feel like I put too much value into worldly things. Times when I feel like I genuinely wouldn't be able to respond like Levi did in this case. I feel like I wouldn't want to leave it all behind. This passage incentivizes me to analyze where my treasures lie and to put more focus into following the call of God and doing His will for my life.

About Gaby Ocampo:
My name is Gabriela, and I am currently a freshman at Texas Christian University. I am majoring in psychology and minoring in child development. I am currently involved with Doxology Bible Church here in Fort Worth and have been blessed with the opportunity to attend a mission trip this spring break in Guatemala! We will be building stoves for the people in the village and sharing the gospel with those around us.
I have been with Grace since my sophomore year of High School and have been involved with student ministries. I have attended summer mission trips and volunteered for VBS.