Corona Devo 8

I challenge us to today: Let’s get up and follow Jesus.

And if it is within reason for you—plan a meal with someone.

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9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.  ~Matthew 9:9-10

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When I read these verses they both jumped out at me.  The two verses are both on completely different topics, but I think they are both relevant, timely and awesome for you and me TODAY.  

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. ~Matthew 9:9

If you know anything about the people that were tax collectors in Jesus’ day—they were hated.  They often cheated people for their own gain, and the people knew it.  Collecting taxes is still a hard job.  I think Jesus was making appoint of who He publicly asked to follow Him.  The nobody, the anybody.  Us!  We don’t need to be in a high position or of great respect to believe in Jesus.  In fact, He welcomes us just as we are—steeped in sin, and unable to clean ourselves up.  Jesus is walking up to you today and saying “Follow me”.  As we fall into step with Him, He cleanses us and our ways and our lives.  He does that once we come to Him: I believe it is a sad (and impossible) mistake that people make when they think we must get ourselves cleaned up before we come to Him.  We can’t do it on our own!

and Matthew got up and followed him. ~Matthew 9:9

Don’t miss this!! 

Since our kids were little, we have tried to teach them “first-time obedience”.  For instance, to stop running when we ask the first time, so that if they are ever chasing a ball into the street and I see a car coming and scream, “STOP!”, they reactively obey the first time, because it might save their life.  (I am not saying that they always listen the first time, but we have tried to teach this! 😊)

Matthew practices first-time obedience here.  He is a grown man, working at his job, and when Jesus taps him, he gets up and follows Jesus, and walks away from everything he had formerly known.  That is awesome faith!  That is obedient faith!  That is radical faith.  

How about you?  How about me?  

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While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. ~Matthew 9:10

This is an interesting detail that Jesus lets us in on.  Matthew decided to leave his former everything, and then the next thing that happens is that Jesus comes to his house for supper.  There is something special about sharing a meal together, isn’t there?  Congregating around a table brings conversation and community and friendship and bonding.  It can be with family or friends, and it can be with acquaintances, but chances are: by the end of the meal you are closer to each other than when you first started. 

I love food, so that “angle” of this verse draws me in, but I also love the fellowship that happens when people gather for a meal.  It is not magical, it is relational.  Even if people have different opinions, it becomes easier to relate to one another as you are rotating dishes back and forth and asking for the salt to be passed.  There is an intimacy in sharing a meal, and that was right where Jesus went with Matthew and many tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 9:10) who came to eat with him.  Jesus knew the power and connection of eating together. 

If you have the opportunity to “break bread” with someone today, take it.  Open the door (and your stomach) to some conversation at the dinner table or the breakfast nook.  Growing closer to one another is an option we have right now, and relationships are more filling than meals.  (But meals are a great way to foster them!)  Jesus gives us many examples of how to live well, but have you ever considered his example of gathering together for meals?  He used meals as a backdrop many times: Matthew’s house, the Upper Room, Martha’s house, and the seashore to name a few.

At a time when we are craving community, pulling an extra chair up to your table tonight might be just the remedy!

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As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.  ~Matthew 9:9-10

I challenge us to today: Let’s get up and follow Jesus.

And if it is within reason for you—plan a meal with someone.  This may mean actually engaging with the family that is around your table every night.  This might mean joining someone eating alone at a table near you.  Or this might mean asking Jesus to join you.  The conversation and connection will be a blessing to all involved!

Have a blessed day,

Sarah