Scripture Reading: mark 2:13-22
The first year of Christ’s public ministry was a year of obscurity. He was not yet well-known. Then, as He spoke and served, His fame grew. We are now in His year of popular favor — His second year. One scene of enthusiasm follows another. After the healing of the paralytic the people were amazed, and glorified God, saying, “We never saw it in this fashion.” Then the record goes on without a break, telling of the Master’s going out from the house where He had been hiding, and that all the multitude resorted unto Him. Then He taught them.
In going along the road, Jesus came to a little office or booth by the wayside and stopped by the door. He had an errand there. He was looking for a man whom He might send forth as an apostle, to carry the blessings of the gospel to others. Jesus is always looking for men He can trust to do His errands. If we would have Him choose for us important and responsible work, we should be faithful in our present service, however lowly it may be. We are being tested continually to show whether we will be faithful. He is looking always for those who are diligent and may be depended on. He never chooses an idle man to entrust with any important duty. He wants men who have capacity and who are eager and busy. Then He wants messengers whom nothing can tempt to be unfaithful.
He saw sitting in this little office the man He was looking for. He was sitting at the place of toll, the place where the people passing by with goods stopped to pay the taxes on the things they were carrying. That seemed a strange place for Jesus to find a man for His work, especially a man who should become an apostle. Those who were engaged in this business of collecting customs were not reputable men. They were hated by their people because their work was to gather taxes for the Romans. Usually they were dishonest, or extortionate, taking all they could get. The publicans were regarded as mean and unpatriotic. However, Jesus can take even a bad and disreputable life an out of it make an apostle.
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