Devotion

Jesus Welcomes Us All

Have you ever been to a really, really good party? Maybe a birthday party with yummy cake and games? Or a party at the start of the school year? Welcome Party!! What a great start to the year that was! Parties are fun, right? We celebrate, we laugh, and we feel happy.

Well, I want to tell you about a time Jesus went to a party, and it was a very special one!

One day, Jesus was walking along and he saw a man named Levi. Now, Levi had a job that not many people liked. He was a tax collector. This meant he collected money from people for the government, and sometimes, tax collectors weren't very kind or fair. Because of this, many people didn't want to be friends with Levi. They thought of him as an outsider, someone not good enough to hang out with.

But Jesus looked at Levi with love, not with judgment. And Jesus said something amazing to Levi. He simply said, "Follow me."

Imagine that! Jesus, the most wonderful person ever, asked Levi to be his friend and follow him. And guess what? Levi was so happy and excited that he got right up, left his tax collecting booth, and followed Jesus!

Levi was so full of joy that he wanted to celebrate! He decided to throw a big party at his house, and he invited Jesus and his disciples. And who else do you think came to the party? Levi invited lots of his friends – other tax collectors and people that the important religious leaders called "sinners," people they didn't think were good enough to be with.

So, Jesus was at a party, having dinner, with people that many others looked down on.

Now, some of the important religious leaders saw this, and they were NOT happy. They grumbled and complained to Jesus's friends, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

They thought that if someone wanted to follow God, they should look sad and serious, maybe even fast (which means not eating for a while) and pray all the time to show they were sorry for anything wrong they had done. A party seemed totally wrong to them!

But Jesus heard them, and he explained something really important. He said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." 1  

What did Jesus mean? He meant that the people who know they make mistakes and need help are the very people he came for! He is like a doctor for our hearts and lives. And when someone decides to follow Jesus, it's like being healed and made new!

Levi's party wasn't just about food and fun. It was a celebration because Levi had met Jesus and his life was changing! Jesus was the most important guest there, and His presence made it a party of welcome, forgiveness, and new beginnings.

The religious leaders thought people had to become perfect before they could be with God. But Jesus showed that He comes to us just as we are, and because of Him, we can change.

So, why was this a party? Because Jesus was there! Jesus brings joy and hope. He welcomes everyone, no matter what they've done or what others think of them. When we choose to follow Jesus, it's the best reason to celebrate!

Just like Levi, when we meet Jesus and decide to follow Him, our hearts can be filled with such joy that we want to celebrate!

Let's remember that Jesus welcomes us all, and His love is always a reason for a party in our hearts! 

Amen.

Prayer Seminar at Good Shepherd

We would like to invite you to a day of teaching and prayer facilitated by Pastor Wayne Kerber on Saturday 31st May, 9.30am-4pm, here at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Para Vista.  Attending this day will provide you with an opportunity to gather with others and share in a passion for prayer and healing.  

Join us for an opportunity to learn more about conversation with God, and how to look at whole lives and deal with root problems, for ourselves and for others. 

All are welcome to attend this free event, with a light lunch provided. 

For more information contact:   Sue 0422 799 668 or email prayer@paravista.org.au

Sunday Service Times at Good Shepherd

2025 Worship Song Playlist

Do you find yourself wondering what songs we sing in Wednesday Worship? Do your children come home singing some of the songs? We would like to invite you to our Good Shepherd School Worship Song Playlist on YouTube. To find a selection of songs that we sing, click here and start singing along!