Matt 9:9
"as Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, 'follow me' and he rose and followed him."
i am struck by the simplicity of this verse. i am struck by the simplicity of this call.
"follow me"
and he rose and followed him.
sometimes i think i make God's call for my life one of pomp and brilliance-which if looked at deep down is motivated by selfishness, the desire to be recognized, to have a good story to tell...yet, the call of God is simple...profoundly simple
follow me
and it is said by one who wears sandles caked with the judean desert, who was born in a stable, from a small town-there was no pomp or brilliance in his call-his life was one of sacrifice
follow me
it is simple, and yet i make it so complex. i worry. follow him to where? what if he really means me to stay where i am? how will i know what to do?
simply...follow me
Matthew didn't really analyze every alternative. instead, he rose and followed him.
that's it
no writing in the clouds or music playing in the background
he rose and followed him.
when will i learn to leave behind my old lifestyle-thought processes, comfort, and like Matthew, listen to my Master's voice?
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1 comment:
Your entry reminded me of a couple of my favorite Elisabeth Elliot quotes - enjoy them...
"It is not a worry anymore. Experience has taught me that the Shepherd is far more willing to show His sheep the path than the sheep are to follow. He is endlessly merciful, patient, tender, and loving. If we, His stupid & wayward sheep, really want to be led, we will without fail be led. Of that I am sure. When we need help, we wish we knew somebody who is wise enough to tell us what to do, reachable when we need him, and even able to help us. God is. Omniscient, omnipresent, onipotent - everything we need. The issue is confidence in the Shepherd Himself, a confidence so complete that we offer ourselves without any reservation whatsoever and determine to do what He says. What He says? But how shall I know that? He calls us every day, "o'er the tumult of our life's wild, restless sea." He comes to us in the little things, in the ordinary duties which our place in life entails."
"It's alluring to think of our own situation as very complex and ourselves as deep and complicated, so that we waste a good deal of time puzzling over "the will of God." Frequently our conscience has the answer."
love,
the stranger downstairs
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