THE IRS AGENT
Matthew 9:9
"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."
Tax collectors – the IRS agents of the day – were despised by the other citizens. They were considered low-life because they were pawns of the Roman occupation. They were also hated because they usually gained their wealth through the unscrupulous practice of charging people more taxes than was due, padding their own pockets. It reminds me of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10) who said, "If I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation." It was not a question of "if" but of "since." It was just a normal part of their job. The amazing thing to me about Matthew is that his response was immediate. There does not seem to be any prior contact with Jesus, though he undoubtedly had heard of this itinerant preacher from the people who passed by his tax office. When Jesus called him, he immediately left his job, his security, his wealth, and became a part of Jesus entourage. There must have been something in the core of his being that wanted more meaning in his life than just having wealth and security. Truly, Jesus came "to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). Both Matthew and Zacchaeus were lost. Their lives were empty and they wanted more than this world had to offer. Jesus knew their Matthew's heart and called him to follow. My own heart longs for more than this world. The deep longing for significance cannot be assuaged by the things of this world. Only Jesus can satisfy that desire.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Jesus calls people to Himself who want more from life than what they have gotten from the world.
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Have a "following" day. Love you.
Matthew 9:9
"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."
Tax collectors – the IRS agents of the day – were despised by the other citizens. They were considered low-life because they were pawns of the Roman occupation. They were also hated because they usually gained their wealth through the unscrupulous practice of charging people more taxes than was due, padding their own pockets. It reminds me of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10) who said, "If I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation." It was not a question of "if" but of "since." It was just a normal part of their job. The amazing thing to me about Matthew is that his response was immediate. There does not seem to be any prior contact with Jesus, though he undoubtedly had heard of this itinerant preacher from the people who passed by his tax office. When Jesus called him, he immediately left his job, his security, his wealth, and became a part of Jesus entourage. There must have been something in the core of his being that wanted more meaning in his life than just having wealth and security. Truly, Jesus came "to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). Both Matthew and Zacchaeus were lost. Their lives were empty and they wanted more than this world had to offer. Jesus knew their Matthew's heart and called him to follow. My own heart longs for more than this world. The deep longing for significance cannot be assuaged by the things of this world. Only Jesus can satisfy that desire.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Jesus calls people to Himself who want more from life than what they have gotten from the world.
[end]
Have a "following" day. Love you.
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