Matthew 9:9
Matthew
must have been shocked. Viewed
as a “weasel” and a traitor by his fellow Jews for helping the Romans rip
off his neighbors through impoverishing taxation, Matthew finds himself
accepted, even chosen. He
“RSVP’d” and said yes to Jesus.
I could not have been easy. How
well do you think it went with Peter and James and John and the
others whose families were adversely affected by Matthew’s having
earlier “sold out” to the Romans.
“one
of the teachers of religious law said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you
wherever you go.” But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds
have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”
Matthew 8:18,
19
We
don’t find Jesus cheering much when he receives a “yes” to his RSVP.
Sometimes he tells would be followers to count the cost.
Don’t jump in unless you mean it.
Saying yes will be good, light years better than the life you are
leading now, but it will be hard.
If you’re not serious it won’t work.
“Another
said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” But Jesus told
him, “Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead.”
Matthew 8:20-22
Sounds
harsh, doesn’t it? But
the man was actually saying, I need to first fulfill my responsibilities to my
very alive, currently healthy
father and after he passes on then I’ll follow you. Jesus was saying to
this man: "You are feeling at the moment that you must get out of that dead
society in which you move; you say you will get out when the years have passed
and your father has died; get out now -- or you will never get out at all."
(William Barclay commentary)
“someone
said to Jesus, "I want to go with you, Lord, but first let me go back and
take care of things at home." Jesus answered, "Anyone who starts
plowing and keeps looking back isn't fit for God's kingdom!"
Luke 9:57-62
You
won’t see a farmer plowing a straight furrow while looking back over his
shoulder. Check this out as you
drive around southern Chester County and
see the Amish plowing their fields
Lord,
remind me of all the calls you have sent out to me over the years.
Help me to reflect on how I’ve responded.
Forgive me for my excuses for not “RSVPing”.
Lord, please call again, and give me the grace not only to say yes, but
to actually show up. Amen
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