Circle of Friends

Vacations, ballgames and cookout’s are the common denominator for many this summer.  The summer season always seems to provide greater opportunity to visit and to broaden your “circle of friends”.

Levi was one of those guys that had a circle of friends.  The difference was that many did not accept Levi’s friends.  They stayed within their own circle and there wasn’t a lot of opportunity for them to make new friends.

One day Levi met a new friend and he convinced Levi to follow Him.  “So  he left all, rose up, and followed Him.”[1]  You may have figured out by now that this new friend of Levi’s is Jesus.  Later we read of Levi but he is often called Matthew.

I don’t know if it was during the summer season, but it definitely was a new season for Levi.  Levi wanted to share this new circle of friends that he has recently met with his old circle of friends.  Luke 5:29 NKJV states “Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house.  And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them.”  The Scribes and Pharisees referred to these “others” as sinners[2] and complained to Jesus’ disciples about this fellowship.

Picture this!  A group of unwelcomed tax collectors and sinners and Jesus and his new followers sitting around a table.  It probably felt awkward for both groups but they soon began to feel comfortable around each other and new friends were made.  Far more importantly, Levi provided a place, his own house, to reach out and intentional introduced his friends to his new friend, Jesus.

When’s the last time that you invited a lost friend over for a meal or for fellowship?  I encourage you while planning your summer activities to look for opportunities to introduce your neighbors, co-workers, friends, and family to Jesus.  Look for opportunity to make new friends and introduce them to an old friend of yours, Jesus.  And remember, as Levi was intentional about what to serve when they arrived at his house, we too should be intentional about what we serve…. Both in the natural and in the spiritual.

Have a great summer visiting and making new friends!

Blessings,

Tim Lamb, Senior Pastor