Matthew introduces himself - Matthew 9:9-17

 

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas inside and outside in Colorado.  It has been fun hunting through the storage closets and finding more treasures to put out in the sanctuary, foyer and fellowship hall.  Hopefully this Advent season will be a memorable one for us as we share it with another part of God's family.  Most of the decorations are up but don't worry we haven't started singing Christmas carols yet.  

The hiking has subsided (ugh) so I am getting my exercise pushing snow.  The bike is in for the season too.  Maybe I will take a hike to town and back now and then to keep my hiking legs.  

Matthew introduces himself into the life of Christ in the passage this week.  He tells you who and where he was; where and when Jesus came into the picture of his life; and what he is doing now.  This is a classic testimony for all of us.  You share who you were before; when Jesus came into view; and who you are now.  The story could be shared like this for Matthew.

I was a sinner.  Actually the whole town of Capernaum would tell you I'm a sinner because I am a tax collector.  Most people avoid me and my view of them is another person to get some money from.  I spend my days in my tax office calculating how much I can get out of people above what is owed to the Romans.

I had heard a lot about this man Jesus.  People coming into the tax office would tell me about this miracle or that healing.  They would share about His teaching that was not like the religious leaders of the day.  Jesus, Jesus, Jesus was the talk of the town and then, all of a sudden, Jesus is standing in my tax office.  Jesus just simply said, "Follow Me."  He wanted me to join His group, to accompany Him on His travels.  Me, a tax collector, a sinner, how could this be?

I did not hesitate.  I got up from my desk and immediately joined Him.  I suggested dinner at my place and He agreed.  I had to tell my other tax collector friends about Jesus so I put on a feast in His honor.  Many came and along with them the religious leaders who would always let us know who we were, sinners.  Jesus spoke to them and let them know that He was right where He was suppose to be, calling sinners to repentance and that is what I did.  I turned from the ways of this world and started following the ways of the Messiah.  He made me want to leave all to follow Him.  I went from seeing what I could get out of people to wanting to give them Jesus.

Have you shared your testimony lately?  Have you thought about it in your head or written or typed it out in the last month or so?  I was a sinner.  Jesus, opened my eyes to see Him as the Savior.  I turned from my sin to the Savior and am following Him with all of my life.  Remember, the key is to be faithful to share when the Spirit gives you the opportunity.  The measure of success is not if someone else turns to Jesus as you did but that you were faithful in letting them hear His name once again.  I wonder how many times Matthew heard Jesus' name before Jesus made Himself known to him?  

Let's keep faithful is sharing the most important event in our lives.

Adam