Hi Everyone,
Sharing a devotional with you from Matthew 9:9-13(TPT)
9 As Jesus left Capernaum he came upon a tax-collecting station, where a Jewish man named Matthew was collecting taxes for the Romans. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said to him. Immediately Matthew jumped up and began to follow Jesus. 10 Jesus went to Matthew’s house and made himself at home. Many other tax collectors and outcasts of society were invited to eat with Jesus and his disciples. 11 When those known as the Pharisees saw what was happening, they were indignant, and they kept asking Jesus’ disciples, “Why would your Master dine with such lowlifes?” 12 When Jesus overheard this, he spoke up and said, “Healthy people don’t need to see a doctor, but the sick will go for treatment.” 13 Then he added, “Now you should go and study the meaning of the verse: I want you to show mercy, not just offer me a sacrifice. For I have come to invite the outcasts of society and sinners, not those who think they are already on the right path.”
Jesus has already started calling people to follow Him as He starts His ministry. As Jesus was healing and forgiving people, He comes up to Matthew to call him to follow Him. Matthew was not in good standing with Jewish people because he was a tax collector for the Romans. So for Jesus to call him to follow is quite significant. Matthew did not hesitate, he got up from where he was and immediately followed Jesus. I wonder what the other disciples were thinking and feeling as Jesus called Matthew. Were they feeling similar to how the Pharisees were feeling? Matthew is an outcast and why would you want him? Jesus wants everyone and welcomes everyone! No one is too broken for Jesus because He loves all of us and we just need to run to Him like Matthew does when Jesus has called Him to come follow.
I wonder if there are times that we look like the Pharisees who look at someone who may not be what we think is worthy or is like how we imagined and are judging that person already. This is where we need to listen to what Jesus says next “I want you to show mercy not just offer me a sacrifice.” I pray that we can be more like Jesus in welcoming everyone into a relationship with Jesus because it is the greatest gift of all! Are we like Matthew when Jesus calls us we jump from where we are to follow or are we the ones looking from the outside looking in and asking what they are doing?
I pray that when Jesus calls us closer to Him we can be like Matthew who jumped from where he was in the tax booth to follow Jesus! I pray that we see that everyone needs Jesus and as Ps. Kelsey spoke this week I pray we can be a blessing to those around us today! Come Follow Me.
Blessings,
Esther