Thought for the Day – 19^th June 2020

Regrets – Luke 5: 27-32

^“ 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.  The Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his disciples, saying, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax-collectors and sinners?’  Jesus answered, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.’”

When we look back over our lives, I wonder if, with hindsight, we realise that we have probably made some bad mistakes.  I expect Levi, later called Matthew, wished he’d never chosen to work for the Romans, cheating and robbing his neighbours until they hated him.

His tax office was on the quayside, so he may have heard Jesus preaching from Peter’s boat, but perhaps that only made him feel worse about himself?  Then one day there was Jesus smiling down at him, offering him friendship and the chance to change.  He left his job with such joy in his heart that he invited all his dishonest and despised friends to dinner so he could introduce them to Jesus.  How that party enraged his religious, self-righteous neighbours!

I am so glad and feel so privileged that Jesus came for people like us, who make mistakes and need his forgiveness, often.

Prayer:

Lord, sometimes we shudder when we look back over our lives, remembering some of the things we wish we had never said or done.  We know you’ve forgiven us, but please help us to forgive ourselves.  Amen.