Cleansed in Surrender
“Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.
Luke 5:27–28
He waved good-bye to his little girl as his estranged wife drove away. As her SUV vanished from sight, his shoulders sagged and his head fell toward his chest. The weight of his circumstances settled heavily as he sensed his world crumbling.
He’d brought this upon himself, but that didn’t make the heartache any less painful. They’d been through this before: him getting drunk and losing control, she taking their daughter and staying at her sister’s for a few days. Then her resolve would melt under his charismatic charm, and they would live in fragility, awaiting the next incident. Until now. He had crossed a line even she wouldn’t tolerate. This was the final good-bye. Children’s services and attorneys would determine how often he would or wouldn’t see his daughter now.
It didn’t take a psychologist to see his regret was genuine; he was truly sorry for his actions. But previous pain hadn’t been enough to bring about lasting change. Turning back into his now empty house, he realized it was no longer a home.
As his wife’s parting words echoed in his head, he fell to his knees seeking God’s intervention. “If you would give God as much attention as you give that bottle, He could show you who you truly are. Unless you give Him control, you’ll always struggle with alcohol.”
†
To worry and heartache, we give consideration; pain we mostly obey. And yet, even agonizing pain sometimes isn’t enough of a motivator to rid us of unwanted behavior. For that there is only one cure: the love and grace of Jesus Christ.
Matthew (Levi) was a tax collector, a publican, one of the vilest of sinners, taxing unscrupulously every person coming to Capernaum. Because of his Roman licensure, Matthew was considered a traitor by the Jews. When Jesus showed up, he must have felt so dirty. But when the Master said, “Follow Me,” the cleansing was complete and immediate. Matthew was changed forever.
There is nothing that does not fall under the grace of our Savior. His simple forgiveness comes in one two-word supplication: “Follow Me.” It only requires our surrender. He promises to do the cleansing.
Prayer
“Help me, Lord! Amen.”
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