Grace Community Church

Encounters with Christ

Levi’s Effectual Call

Luke 5:27-32

**Scripture reading Luke 18:9-14

Luke 5:27-32 (ESV) 

    After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.”  [28] And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.

    [29] And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them.  [30] And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”  [31] And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  [32] I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

How sane would a person be to wait until they were well before going to the doctor?  “I’m alright now Doc, but you should have seen me two weeks ago.” Or what if someone said, “Boy just as soon as I get well I’m going to see the doctor.” That kind of thinking makes no sense at all.  Healthy people don’t go to the doctor; sick people go to the doctor.

That type of logic makes no sense in the physical realm but people often use a similar logic in the spiritual realm and think it makes good sense and it’s just as crazy.  They say, “When I get my life turned around, I’m going to become a Christian.”

In this text, we are shown how salvation comes about.  Notice there is no magical prayer, no coming forward, and no human initiated decision.  Read the rest of this entry »

Encounters with Christ

Christ’s Gracious Restoration of Peter

John 21:15-22

John 21:15-22 (ESV) 

    When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”  [16] He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”  [17] He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.  [18] Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.”  [19] (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

    [20] Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who had been reclining at table close to him and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?”  [21] When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?”  [22] Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” 

Have you ever been in a situation that you thought God was not paying attention?  Maybe you were in dire need and you began to pray and it seemed as if God were not listening.  Maybe you remained in that situation for a long time…maybe you’re still there.  Read the rest of this entry »