Where are you in the story?

And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, "Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"
Luke 5:30

Jesus called Levi (aka, Matthew), and he responded by leaving his lucrative tax-collecting franchise to follow Jesus.  Levi was so excited, that he invited Jesus to his home for dinner.  A nice gesture, don’t you think?  Who did Levi know except for tax-collectors (thought to be among the worst of sinners)?  So he invited who he knew.  Jesus, knowing who would be present at the meal, attended.

Enter the religious crowd.  Were they happy that a tax-collector had repented?  Not a chance.  They were incensed that Jesus would attend an event with such a crowd of undesirables.  And they said so!

Of course, Jesus instructed them that He hadn’t come for those who [falsely] considered themselves to be righteous, but for sinners in need of repentance.

Where are you in the story?  Are you excited about your Savior to the extent that you invite sinners to meet Jesus?  Are you, perhaps, one who prefers to keep undesirable sinners at arm’s distance? 

Let us be like Levi, and more importantly, like Jesus—instead of being like the religious crowd.