When Jesus calls us to repent and believe, it is a command to follow Him. He calls us to trade a life lived for ourselves for a life lived for Him, just as he did Levi the tax collector. But his call is not only to live for Him but to live with Him. When Jesus sat at table with Levi and other reviled tax collector acquaintances, His mercy to the sinner was revealed. Jesus allowed His own reputation to suffer just so He could continue to support Levi in his new life and any who would join in following Him.
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