In Matthew 9 we find recorded Jesus calling of Matthew (or Levi) the tax collector to be His disciple. It’s a rather simple affair; Jesus confronts Matthew at his collector’s booth and simple says, “follow Me”. We don’t know if Matthew was familiar with Jesus prior to this encounter or not but we do know that Matthew left everything and began to follow Jesus. It was that simple.
There are 3 things I noted about this encounter with Jesus that applies to us as well:
1: Jesus chose Matthew, not the other way around. Matthew didn’t go begging Jesus to “accept him”, Jesus rather sought out Matthew. The Bible tells us that Jesus sought us out while we were “yet sinners”. Jesus loved us first! Just like Matthew, Jesus has already chosen us. We don’t have to wonder if He will accept us, He has already chosen us and asks us to be His disciple.
2: Jesus’ call to discipleship is to all, regardless of position, title, economic situation, or political persuasion. Matthew was a tax collector, a collaborator with the Roman oppression of the day, but He still called him. Just as Jesus called a group of fishermen (Peter, Andrew, James and John). Just as He called Simon the Zealot, a political activist against the Romans (don’t you kind of wonder how he and Matthew got along?). Today, He still calls us one and all regardless of rich or poor, race, blue collar or white collar, or any other division you can think of.
3: Matthew’s only needed response was obedience. He didn’t have to beg Jesus, nor did Jesus beg him. Jesus called, Matthew just had to obey and begin to follow after Jesus. When Jesus calls it demands an answer: obey, or reject, those are the only options. Matthew and the other Disciples obeyed and followed Jesus. The Rich Young Ruler did not and it says that he “went away sad”. When Jesus calls you have two options: you can either obey and follow, or you can reject Him and walk away.
What will you do today? Jesus has already chosen you, just as you are regardless of who you are. Will you follow?
dashingdisciple 