Friday (July 4): Jesus calls sinners to come follow him Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13 9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, Follow me. And he rose and followed him. 10 And as he sat at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? 12 But when he heard it, he said, Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. Meditation: Do you know what Gods call is on your life? Jesus called Matthew to be his follower and friend, not because Matthew was religious or learned, popular or saintly. Matthew appeared to be none of these. He had chosen to live a life of comfort and wealth. His profession was probably the most corrupted and despised by everyone in society, because tax collectors made themselves wealthy by over-charging and threatening people if they did not hand over their money to them. What did Jesus see in Matthew that others did not see? God searches for yearning hearts One lesson we can learn from the Old Testament is that God searches for hearts that yearn for him. When God sent the prophet Samuel to the house of Jesse to pick one of his sons to be the future heir to the throne of Israel, Jese put before the prophet the oldest and strongest of his sons. Samuel bypassed all the first seven sons and then chose David, the youngest and least of Jesses sons! God looks at the heart and not at the appearance of a man, Samuel declared. Davids heart was like a compass looking for true north - it pointed to God. When Jesus saw Matthew sitting at his tax office - very likely counting his days profit - Jesus spoke only two words - follow me. Those two words changed Matthew from being a self-serving profiteer to a God-serving apostle who would bring the treasures of Gods kingdom to the poor and needy.Why did Jesus pick Matthew to be a disciple and one of the chosen twelve apostles? Jesus chose Matthew not for what he was, but for what he would become under Jesus direction and training. Matthews heart must have yearned for God, even though he dare not show his face in a synagogue - the Jewish house of prayer and study of Torah - Gods law. That is why he unhesitatingly accepted Jesus invitation and left all to follow him. God looks for hearts ready to say yes to his call John Chrysostom, the great 5th century church father, describes why Jesus decided to call Matthew sometime after he had chosen other disciples first to be his apostles: Why did Jesus not call Matthew at the same time as he called Peter and John and the rest? He came to each one at a particular time when he knew that they would respond to him. He came at a different time to call Matthew when he was assured that Matthew would surrender to his call. Similarly, he called Paul at a different time when he was vulnerable, after the resurrection, something like a hunter going after his quarry. for he who is acquainted with our inmost hearts and knows the secrets of our minds knows when each one of us is ready to respond fully. Therefore he did not call them all together at the beginning, when Matthew was still in a hardened condition. Rather, only after countless miracles, after his fame spread abroad, did he call Matthew. He knew Matthew had been softened for full responsiveness. Jesus is the true physician of minds, souls, and bodies When the Pharisees challenged Jesus unorthodox behavior in eating with public sinners, Jesus defense was quite simple. A doctor doesnt need to visit healthy people; instead he goes to those who are sick. Jesus likewise sought out those in the greatest need. A true physician seeks healing of the whole person - body, mind, and spirit. Jesus came as the divine physician and good shepherd to care for his people and to restore them to wholeness of life. The orthodox were so preoccupied with their own practice of religion that they neglected to help the very people who needed spiritual care. Their religion was selfish because they didnt want to have anything to do with people not like themselves. Jesus stated his mission in unequivocal terms: I came not to call the righteous, but to call sinners. Ironically the orthodox were as needy as those they despised. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). On more than one occasion Jesus quoted the saying from the prophet Hosea: For I desire mercy and not sacrifice (Hosea 6:6). Do you thank the Lord for the great mercy he has shown to you? And do you show mercy to your neighbor as well? Lord Jesus, our Savior, let us now come to you: Our hearts are cold; Lord, warm them with your selfless love. Our hearts are sinful; cleanse them with your precious blood. Our hearts are weak; strengthen them with your joyous Spirit. Our hearts are empty; fill them with your divine presence. Lord Jesus, our hearts are yours; possess them always and only for yourself. (Prayer of Augustine, 354-430) source: dailyscripture.net
Posted on: Thu, 03 Jul 2014 23:21:32 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015