Faith or security?
As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him. Matthew 9:9
Matthew was a tax collector. He was despised by the Hebrew people because of the position of his employment. He probably never imagined that Jesus would select him to be part of His ministry. Many of His other disciples had followed John the Baptist, so when John announced that Jesus was the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world, some of John’s followers immediately left him and began to walk with Jesus. They had John’s word that this was the Messiah and the assurance that it was right to move from the ministry of the forerunner to follow the coming One. Matthew didn’t have that announcement to attach his faith to.
In today’s scripture we read that Jesus passed by Matthew at work one day and told him to “Follow Me.” What great faith it took for Matthew to get up leave his job to join Jesus’ mission that day. How many of us would have been that brave? Think about what Matthew had to do to become a full time disciple of Jesus. He walked out on a job that had made him rich beyond most of the Hebrew people, and the Roman people for that matter. He had financial security and always had the best food, clothing and shelter. He was set up for life.
Today, if Jesus were walking the earth, how would you and I respond to His call? Would we be willing to walk off a job? Would we be willing to give up our home and possessions? Would we even be willing to stop scrolling, set down our devises or walk away from our favorite binge series? It would be safe to say it would be hard, even impossible for some people. The reason is because it takes faith to follow Jesus.
Do you have faith, or do you need security? Yes, I know most Christian depend on God to put them in a place where they have a steady paycheck and job security. This is so they are not wondering where their next meal is coming from or how to pay the bills. Certainly, there is nothing wrong with that. God blesses His people and provides positions of employment for His children to faithfully apply themselves to that position. However, the reason is not so that we can sit back, feel secure and take it easy in life. Our place of employment is our mission field. When we step into a job that we have prayed for and ask our heavenly Father to give, He opens up the way for us to have a ministry for Him there. We are being called to “Follow Him” in that place. So, the next time you have the opportunity to encourage a fellow worker, invite someone to church or share the love of God with, don’t pass it up. Walk out the mission Jesus has called you to, right where you are. Then when He says “Follow Me” to the next place, you will be ready to walk away from that secure position and on to the next field of ministry, by faith.
Today I want to encourage you to first of all surrender all to Jesus. Tell Him you are willing to follow Him. Second, spend time with Him growing your relationship and your faith. Set aside some of the distractions that consume all your “free” time and make His agenda become your priority. Lastly, begin your mission where you are today. You do not have to go to a foreign nation to minister, you can do it in your everyday walk starting now. Decide today that you are going to follow Him no matter what the cost is.
Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 9:1-13
1 So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city.
2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”
3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”
4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?
5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’?
6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
7 And he arose and departed to his house.
8 Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.
Matthew the Tax Collector
9 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.
10 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
The Daily Dose 