21 September 2015 - follow the call

He said to him, “Follow me.”
And he got up and followed him.

Matthew hears and he follows. He is not one he hears the word of the LORD only without doing, deceiving himself (cf. Jam. 1:22). How is Matthew able to get up and go? After all, he has a life up to this point even if we don't hear much about it. He has a profession. And even if he is not popular with everyone he does have friends, the other tax collectors and sinners who dine together with him and Jesus at his house.

Matthew is responding to the mission for which he is made. It isn't just a preference he has. It isn't just the career most suited to him by his temperament. It is his chance to use the gift he is given. It is his chance to truly embody the purpose for which he is made.

And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets,
others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,
to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry,
for building up the Body of Christ,

We tend to accessorize our Christianity. We do it when it feels right or when it seems like a good match for our individual strengths and weaknesses. We take it on like we take on a career. We discern it based not on the gifts we are given by God nor again based on his call on our lives but instead based on the fit that feels the most natural to us. We can assume that leaving everything behind to follow Jesus does not feel natural to Matthew. It feels better than that. It feels supernatural. It is something he would never discover without responding to the call of Jesus. He would never work it out based on mere self-assessment.

Yet his natural abilities are all put to use. All of the friends and relationships he has are not wasted but instead elevated. Their fellowship is raised to "the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" as they dine with Jesus in the house of Matthew.

“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
He heard this and said,
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.

Matthew discovers that he is made to "declare the glory of God" just as surely as are the heavens and the firmament. His voice resounds throughout the whole world because Jesus calls and he answers. Jesus says, "Follow Me" and he follows. May we do the same.

until we all attain to the unity of faith
and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,
to the extent of the full stature of Christ.