The Trick Question

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.”  Luke 5:29-32 

Have you ever had a trick question?  Here’s a good one.  Adam’s mother had three children.  The first child was named April.  The second child was named May.  What was the third child’s name?  I would of course think of June.  That would be the wrong answer because if Adam’s mom had three children and are the other two are named April and May, the only one left is . . . Adam.  Sometimes people can solve it just by reading it as is.  Other times, things are a bit more complicated.  For example, as Christians, we know we are saved through Jesus Christ.  But once we are saved, does that put us in a place higher than those who are not?  Well, we are given grace through Jesus Christ, and submit to God.  That puts us in a place other than those who have not made that choice.  But does that really make us better? 

We must always remember that although we are saved through Christ all are worthy of God's love.  In reading the story of Levi's conversion, we understand that Levi was a tax collector.  In those times, they were considered the ‘worst of the worst’ people.  Like last week's devotion, we find the Pharisees looking on with disdain questioning why Jesus would hang out with such people.  Jesus answered, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”  Now that sounded like He was out to save Levi and the other non-believers.  However, here’s the trick question. Did this mean the Pharisees did not need to be called because they were righteous?  The answer is no because we know that all fall short of God’s glory!  This means Jesus calls all people regardless of whether they claimed Christ or not.  We might see others who do wrong or are openly living in sin, and not feel they are worth our time.  However, we are to remain humble recognizing that we too need Christ.  We grow in Christ, and we have a heart for Him.  The key to avoid the trick is not substituting us being in a better place by knowing Christ for us being better because we know Christ. 

We are all equal in the eyes of Christ.  Yes, we are thankful for the gift of grace given by God.  That gift is special to us, but God makes each of us special. If we love others as we love Him, others will see how special they are too.  That’s how Jesus saw Levi and his friends; special people who just needed to know how special they were to God.  Let us remember this seeing those like us as brothers and sisters in Christ and those who have not committed as people who need to know how beautiful and special they are to God.  Who can you share the love of Christ with today?  How can you see others unlike you as Christ saw Levi?  My prayer is that we recognize how we all need Jesus Christ, and not fall for ‘the trick question.’  Amen.