"And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him."

Luke 5:27-28

Rise Up and Follow

Denis Brent Rees

Gracious Father God we often say let me just think
yet there was a publican who trusted without a blink
Not only did this man make his decision then leave
he invited peers to his home that men might believe

This is a stirring example of how Your Son moves
during our lives we've ample time before He reproves
To follow Truth and Love takes a moment to decide
or we can swallow the evil rake that foments inside

We can bring glory to You and yearn for You Above
or spurn You and be a gustatory story of all we love
Jesus Christ knocks at our door with His quiet voice
what we do with the locks is up to us for it is a choice

Father we thank You for Luke's tax collector story
how he asked Christ to be his Director to Your glory
It took him little time to come to his own decision
he forsook his kind although he would face derision

Who was this Levi who left a demeaning life flawed
Thy Apostle Matthew a name meaning gift of God
This man whose very presence once spelled doom
melded in Christ and was present in an upper room

Father Father Father all praises to Thy Holy Name
as Your Son comes in life's ways are never the same
Let us stand as did Levi and even faster if we can
and set forth in The Master's plea to tell every man

In The Name of Christ Jesus

Amen!