Craving Community - How the Gospel Helps You Cultivate Faithful FriendshipsНамуна

In Luke 5:27–31, Jesus approached Levi the tax collector knowing that he was considered the lowest of the low (Luke 5:27). Because Levi was a Jew who worked for the oppressive Romans, he was regarded as a traitor, having aligned himself with the oppressor of his own people. The self-righteous Pharisees had already decided what they thought of him. And though he was dining with the King of kings, they chose to define him by what he did and not by the person he was with. By inviting Jesus into his home, Levi displayed repentance. Instead of turning him away, Jesus sat down and ate with him. Levi’s humility was what Jesus cared about. By eating with Levi, Jesus conveyed that those who are righteous are the ones who recognize their need for Him.

If we are honest with ourselves, we have high criteria for friends. We want to spend time with people who are like us. We want to be around people who share the same interests, like what we like, and hate what we hate. We feel justified when we turn up our noses at those who are not deemed socially acceptable. Our guest lists are short.

But God is not like us. Is Jesus picky about His friends? Well . . . yes. But His criteria are not what we might expect. The friends Jesus chooses are the lowly, the outcast, and the sinner—we are all included in those categories. We have the choice to respond to Jesus’s invitation. Choosing Jesus requires humility.

While Levi invited Him to a banquet, Jesus hosts a grand feast for us. Those invited are the ones that we in our self-righteousness would never expect. He invites the lowly and the lost. Jesus invites us to dine with Him. Our faith in Him is the acceptance of that invitation.

How does God’s criteria for friendship differ from our own?