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.”
There are three types of groups in the Church. The first are those who marvel because they see the power of God manifesting through men. The second are those whom Jesus calls to follow Him, and they arise to follow Him without doubting or questioning. Jesus knew that Matthew was a vile and wicked man. Jesus knew how despicable he was even before his people. As a tax collector, he was corrupt, cruel and greedy. Yet Jesus called Matthew to follow Him. He needed to arise from his seat of extortion and ugliness, and follow the Master into the dawn of a new day. And Matthew, the evil and despicable tax collector, arose from his old sit and followed Jesus into newness of life.
This second group of people who follow Jesus are those who follow Him after arising. They do not follow Him because of any miracle or power display. They do not remain in the vomit of the old life while claiming to follow Him. They arise and follow. We cannot stay in the old ways and follow. Following demands a price to pay. Following requires a departure from some things and some people. Following means walking away from something dear and walking behind someone more precious. We are called to arise and follow. And this arising is a lifelong requirement in the lifelong journey of following. Are you following while seated? It’s time to arise today.
“Master, I arise this morning in my heart and my ways. Professing following You without arising is self-deception, and I will not indulge in such at this stage of my life. But Lord, show me more clearly, areas where I need to depart from as I commit to follow You. Show me Lord, and I will surely, by Your grace, arise to follow You. In Your name, I plead. Amen.”
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