The Call to Follow

Scripture:
Matthew 9:9 - "As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, 'Follow Me!' So he got up and followed Him."

Devotional:
The simplicity of Matthew’s calling is striking. Matthew was sitting in his tax office, going about his daily work when Jesus approached him and said, "Follow Me." Without hesitation, Matthew left everything behind—his job, his wealth, his position—and followed Jesus. For Matthew, this moment marked the beginning of a radical transformation.
What stands out here is not just Matthew's immediate response, but the fact that Jesus called someone like him at all. Tax collectors were despised by the Jewish people for their collaboration with the Romans and their reputation for corruption. Yet Jesus saw past all of this. He didn’t see Matthew’s sins and failures; He saw Matthew’s potential to be His disciple.
Jesus' call to Matthew is a reminder that no one is beyond the reach of His grace. No matter our past or our current circumstances, Jesus extends the invitation to follow Him. The decision to follow, however, requires a willingness to leave behind the things that have defined us—our past mistakes, our old identities, and the ways we have lived apart from God.
Like Matthew, when Jesus calls us to follow Him, it’s an invitation to a new life, a new purpose, and a new identity. Following Jesus means leaving behind anything that keeps us from fully committing to Him and embracing the life He offers.

Reflection Questions:
    1. What "tax office" are you sitting in today—what things are holding you back from fully following Jesus?

    2. How does Jesus’ call to Matthew encourage you about His willingness to call you, despite your past?

    3. What might you need to leave behind in order to follow Jesus more fully?

Application:
Consider what in your life may be keeping you from fully following Jesus. This could be a sin, a relationship, or even a mindset. Spend time in prayer, asking God to help you let go of these things and to give you the courage to step into the life He is calling you to.

Closing Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for calling me to follow You. Help me to let go of anything that holds me back from fully embracing the life You have for me. Give me the courage to leave behind my old ways and to trust You with my future. In Your name, Amen.