Follow Me

Follow me ... a calling made by the Lord Jesus to one of His early disciples, Matthew known as Levi in Hebrew. Immediately he decided to leave behind his old life and followed Jesus.

No matter how marred the reputation of Matthew during his time, Jesus was not bothered at all to be associated with him, so much so He made Matthew one of His facilitators towards the accomplishment of His Messianic purpose, to heal the sick and bring salvation to the world. (Mark 2:17)

Throughout Matthew's experience in following Christ, he got to enjoy the grace of God. His mingling with the Lord rubbed on him the love of Christ for people. For so experiencing the glory of God, he gathered with him the other tax collectors and all together they had a close interaction with the Lord.

To follow the Lord, does require us a sacrifice. Just like Matthew when he left his job, we too have to choose to leave behind indulgences of life, to amend our dealings with other people, and to be able to give what we used to hold back from whom it is due.

Matthew realized his need of Jesus and made an impartial decision to follow Him. Because apart from the Savior, he knew eternal damnation awaits him. Just like any of us, Matthew needed the salvation and healing that can be found only in the person whom he had decided to follow- Jesus.

All the followers of the Lord way back in the times of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob down to the generation of Joshua, and over the ministry of the disciples, impacted the world with their focus in obeying God. They falter at times but did not stop there, they were so convicted in themselves in bringing about the salvation to the world.

We too can make that decision to follow Jesus and so impact the same glory just as His followers in the olden times, to our modern generation. Matthew did not stop just to enjoy salvation for himself alone, but as he grew in the love of the Lord he shared with his friends, the tax-collectors, the same salvation. So when we make the same decision, we also shall  develop that desire in our heart.

References:

CCF Chronicle -weekly Bulletin
Bible :Book of  Matthew 4 (NIV)- Jesus Calls His First Disciples
Bible: Book of  Mark 2 (NIV)
I Thank my sister Kharole for the image