the Matthews

In Matthew, it describes stories of Jesus, his choosing of His disciples and speaking the Sermon on the Mount. Then he meets Matthew ... the tax collector ... he is nothing like Christ ... but Jesus is enamored ... and pretty much invites Himself over to Matthew's house to hang out with many others who don't follow Jewish Law and probably have none of the same convictions that He has.

It is said that in that time, sharing a meal was a huge statement. In their culture it represented that you had the same values and convictions of those sitting at the table with you, you were one. You were unified. What a powerful statement Christ made in fellowshiping with them. People in the community judged. The religious leaders ridiculed.

Am I like Him? Do I have enough evidence at my dinner table to be persecuted for the same things?

The simple answer is ... no.

I am friends with many that are like-minded and easy to spend time with. I don't step up to challenge or walk far out of my comfort-world. I live in the simple and complacent group of friends that share the same values and convictions as me.

This is not Christ.

This, here, is my conviction and motivation for life-change.

He wants us to befriend those who are law-breakers, hypocrites, drug-addicts, those who don't agree with our political views, our moral convictions, and people who don't see our God as their own.

He wants to have intentional and meaningful relationships with these people. This does not just mean servanthood, these are real and deep friendships.

Do I do this?

No.

So, this is a challenge to me. I am to change my life, once again, chasing after the things He is that I am not quite ... yet.

And I'm growing there, one step at a time.


Matthew 9:9-13
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. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."