- 2019Nov 08
- COMMENTS0
The Scum of the Earth
by Berni Dymet
Luke 5:27-29 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up, left everything, and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house; and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting at the table with them.
Some people are just considered to be – well, scum of the earth. Child molesters. Rapists. The conman who swindles the elderly couple out of their life’s savings. And back in Jesus’ day – add to that: tax collectors. Not only were they corrupt – but also they were Jews who collected taxes for the occupying Romans, so … traitors as well.
The Jesus mega-star juggernaut swings into town – crowds following Him as He walks down the road. And Jesus spies Levi: a tax collector; a bottom dweller – scum of the earth status on the 1st century Jewish social register.
So what does Jesus do – this God-man, this Son of the living God, creator of the universe? What does He do?
He says – ‘Levi, come follow me’.
Can you believe it? Outrageous. Doesn’t Jesus know this Levi and all his mates are scum of the earth?
Sure He does. That was the whole point. That’s why He came. For Levi … for me … for you … for anyone, anyone prepared to follow Him
That’s something I really need to work on. Drug pushers are the folks I don’t have a high regard for (basically I consider them a waste of good genetic material). Yet, I’ve seen a couple that have turned it around, gotten out of the biz, and become great examples for Christ. And they’re the one’s who can get in an minister to the users and pushers. Oddly, when you look at it, their mission field is a bit of minefield. One wrong move, and they’re back there doing and selling. Reckon I should be praying for them more.
Thanks for the head slap. Guess I need to work on that area.
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Thank you for the comment always welcome. I serve in a Christian Celebrate Recovery and I saw miracles. I give anyone a second chance but like you, I still have problems at times so, don’t be too hard on yourself. God bless you.
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