“‘Follow Me,’ He told him.” (Matthew 9:9 NIV)
The Lord Jesus is continually at work, healing people, setting them free from spiritual bondage, and teaching them. Anointed with the power of the Holy Spirit, He travels throughout the land on His way to the cross, where He will bear the judgment for sin and abolish death. He is on His way to obtain new life for humanity.
Matthew, on the other hand, is sitting in his tax collector’s booth. You could say that he is stuck, trapped in a world of deceit and lies, greed and darkness. He is a striking example of the condition of a person without God — maybe you recognize yourself in this? The Bible says that such a person is powerless and even spiritually dead (see Romans 5:6 and Colossians 2:13). He is unable to get moving and change his life for the better.
Then Jesus passes by and sees Matthew. He speaks only two words: “Follow Me!”
That call echoes through the centuries. “Come, follow Me,” Jesus says to us as well (Matthew 4:19 NIV). He shows us the way to eternal life. All we have to do is follow Him closely.
Are you willing to do that? What might it cost you to follow Jesus? And what will it gain you?