As Jesus passed by,
he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, “Follow me.”
And he got up and followed him.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners came
and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples,
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
He heard this and said,
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words,
I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” Mt 9:9-13

How easy would it be today, if you were asked to give up everything and follow Jesus? This is a tough one for me, because, as my wife will tell you, I am someone who has to see things to understand them. I am not saying that I am not trying to do what I am called to do on a daily basis from God, I am just putting the question out there. How easy would it be?

Being the moral person that I am, it is hard for me just to follow behind someone. You have to sort of “prove” yourself before I can get behind your cause. Once you have done that, I will become one of your biggest fans, but getting there, there has to be some substance that goes along with it. If I had no prior knowledge of Jesus, and if I were Matthew in this scene, I would have a hard time just getting up and following Him. Now, at this stage in Jesus’ ministry, He had performed many acts and word of Him had traveled very far throughout Judea. I probably would have been intrigued by the stories and followed along, had I had prior knowledge. Well, fast forward to today, we have so many signs, stories, actual historical accounts, and so many other mysteries brought forth to prove that Jesus is the way to salvation, yet, I still struggle with the ask to follow Him wholeheartedly.

Lord, I pray that today you will help me to follow you wholeheartedly. Help me to soften my heart, and open my ears to allow for you to fill me up with your Spirit. Guide me into the places that I am being called, and help me to be healed. I am sick, just like the ones you were dining with, and I am in need of all of your healing wisdom. Amen.