"And He said to him, 'Follow Me.'"
(Matthew 9: 9, NKJV)
Have you ever went to the mailbox and found an envelope that had that certain look and shape? You know, that envelope that you had been waiting for? That envelope that contained the invitation to that event, that baby shower, that wedding, that graduation. Have you ever gotten an invitation?
We love the invite. The invite makes us feel special, feel welcome, feel wanted, feel needed! We love the invite! We need the invite! And when you read the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 9 in the Bible, you find the most important of all invites that God gives to those who are following Him.
The passage tells us that Jesus is passing through an area and He sees a tax collector. One of the most hated men in all the Jewish world! A tax collector was viewed as the trash of society, a traitor to his own people. A Jew who had sold-out to the enemy, the Romans. He was charged to receive taxes for Caesar. For income, he was given the liberty to charge above and beyond the actual tax, the extra, he got to keep! Hated!
Can you imagine how Matthew felt? Then Jesus comes on the scene. Jesus only says two words to Him. Two words that would change his life! Two words that would take his low self esteem, his feelings of regret, anger, remorse, frustration, and bring complete and abundant healing and forgiveness. Two Words! Jesus said, "Follow Me."
He did not say, "Quit your job first." Jesus did not say, "Make amends with others first." Jesus said, "Follow Me." That's the great invite! Jesus is giving you that invite right now, as you read this blog! Jesus says, "Follow Me." Don't complicate it! Don't internalize it! Don't excuse it away! Jesus simply says to you, to me, to everyone person, "Follow Me." He loves you. He paid your sin debt on the cross. He died, was buried, arose from the grave, ascended to Glory all for you. He invites you to follow him. Just make the decision to turn to Him, love Him, follow Him.
Matthew did and he was never the same. He found what his heart longed for. So will you. After Matthew began following Jesus, the passage tells us the very first thing he did in his new faith was invite others to come to his house and meet Jesus. He invited all kinds of people. He didn't label them, there was no need too. Jesus looks beyond the sin and sees the person. It is the person He loves. It is the person He came to redeem, to heal, to invite to follow Him.
Are you a Christ-follower? If not, follow Jesus today. He is giving you the Great Invite. If you are a Christ-follower, follow the example of Matthew. Host a party at your house, talk to a friend, give the Great Invite to others. Invite them to Follow Him!
