Observation: Jesus calls Matthew--a tax collector, reviled by his neighbors for personally profiting from Rome's occupation of Galilee--to follow him. He doesn't ask him any questions about his theology or his moral conduct. He simply issues a challenge, "follow me," and Matthew gets up and does it. The text doesn't say of Matthew is the first tax collector to start following Jesus, but soon after, many tax collectors and "sinners" are in Jesus' presence, eating with him. After facing some resistance, Jesus clarifies that this is his mission: to call not the righteous but sinners.
Application: We spend too much time arguing with ourselves. Not on real introspection or prayer, mind you, but rather on the constant internal dialogue about whether we really believe what we say we believe, whether we're really doing what we say we're doing, whether we're really as effective at it as we want to be. We argue with ourselves about what we want, and whether our heart is truly in the right place. Am I a good person? Do I believe enough?
I guess when I say "we" I mean "I." You may or may not relate.
It is a word of profound grace, and profound challenge, to me today, that Jesus apparently does not care about the state of Matthew's heart. There is no litmus test. There is no moral qualification. There is no creed or belief statement to sign before starting his journey. There is only the challenge, "follow me," and the opportunity to take the first step. Jesus knows that when Matthew takes the first step, his mind and his heart will eventually get where they need to get. The same is true of us.
If you want a restless heart and spirit, keep arguing with yourself about whether you're good enough. Don't move a muscle until you have it all figured out.
But if you want a lighter burden, if you want a peace the the world can't offer you, gently place those questions aside today and go ahead and do one thing you know Jesus wants you to do. I don't know what that one thing is, but I suspect you do. And judging by my own experience, when that one thing is done, your trust in Jesus will have increased on its own, and your concern about your own goodness will have become just a little less relevant.
Prayer: Jesus, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for the call to follow. Help me to leave my stupid little counting booth and take one step out into your world today. In your name I pray, Amen.
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