Called Like Matthew!

We may find it interesting to consider the kind of men Jesus called to be His disciples. Certainly they were not of the “caliber” the Jewish leaders of the day would have considered to be selected by “the Messiah”. In fact, Jesus was greatly criticized by these leaders for His choices of association. One of those occasions occurred at the calling of Matthew.
( Matthew 9:10-11) But let us consider the calling of Matthew itself.

Matthew simply records his calling as follows:
“As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called MATTHEW SITTING AT THE TAX BOOTH, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he rose and followed him.” ( Matthew 9:9 ESV)

Even today, who loves the “tax man”? April 15th is celebrated with as much enthusiasm as Thanksgiving and Christmas -- right? Wrong! At the time of Christ most tax collectors were so fraudulent in their collections that the whole class of them were viewed as thieves. And if Gentile tax collectors were hated, those of Jewish nationality who had hired themselves to collect taxes were especially hated, even being considered traitors. And such was this one whom Jesus called to follow Him. Jesus called Matthew right while he was in the midst of carrying out his occupation.

What did Matthew do? The text tells us “he rose and followed him.” Jesus obviously saw something in Matthew that many others must have missed or simply refused to take note of. Right there at his tax booth Matthew was CALLED TO LEAVE what he was doing and follow Jesus and that is what he did.

Like Matthew, we have received the invitation to follow Jesus even while in the act of worldly living; called out of worldly focuses and practices to become learners of His Way. The calling has not been reserved for after we have straightened out our life, but before, with the hope offered for transformation. Neither is it because we are so good and talented that Jesus just has to have us on His team!

Writing to the church at Corinth, Paul offered a reminder of what most of them had been when they were called.
“(26) For CONSIDER YOUR CALLING, brothers: NOT MANY of you were wise according to worldly standards, NOT MANY were powerful, NOT MANY were of noble birth. (27) BUT GOD CHOSE what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; GOD CHOSE what is weak in the world to shame the strong; (28) GOD CHOSE what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, (29) so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. (30) HE IS THE SOURCE OF YOUR LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. (31) Therefore, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’” ( 1 Corinthians 1:26-30 ESV)

It is when we accept the calling of Jesus that something truly good can become of our life. Therefore let our boast be in the Lord Who has the power to take even the most common folk and bring about glorious transformation.

Have a great day GLAD YOU’VE ANSWERED THE CALL!
Carl

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