Mark’s Gospel ch2 vs13 -17.
Having forgiven and healed the paralytic man earlier in this
chapter, The Lord Jesus Christ moved on from the very crowded and noisy house
in Capernaum -
down to the seaside…
We who are living in Scarborough
are fully appreciating this move!
Passing by the tax office, He asked Levi (Matthew), a tax
collector to follow Him. He immediately left all things and did so.
We may think that we have far too many taxes to pay, but it
was no different in this past time! The Jewish tax collectors were hated as working
for the Roman occupiers, many of which being of ill – repute and corrupt.
Matthew, having repented and accepted The Lord Jesus Christ,
was not only forgiven of his sins, but also having his life changed for the
better.
Forgiveness for our sins is essential and truly wonderful,
but The Lord Jesus Christ goes further – He also transforms lives in behaviour
and thinking!
Matthew became a devoted follower of Jesus Christ – a
disciple.
A tax collector went
on to write the history and ministry of The Lord Jesus Christ!
Dear reader, have you personally repented of your own sins
and accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour? Have you not yet experienced the
great peace and joy of knowing your every sin is forgiven, by trusting in Jesus
Christ’s work on The Cross?
There at Calvary , the
sinless Son of God gave His own body and shed blood to make atonement for all
our sins.
He alone did what none of us could ever do – He paid the
price of all our sins and took our deserved punishment upon Himself. His Father
fully accepted this sinless sacrifice, and Christ was raised from the dead.
Jesus Christ is the only Saviour of sinners, and the only
way to Heaven!
So, Matthew’s natural skills were used to the further glory
of God, and here is a challenge indeed, to all of us who know Christ as our
Lord and Saviour…
“How do I use what I naturally have, for God’s service”?
We can learn much from Matthew – he left all, followed
Christ, and gave all!
How many countless precious souls and lives have been
blessed through the reading of Matthew’s Gospel account!
Each of us has something that The Lord can fully use (read 1st
Corinthians ch12, Romans ch12).
Every one of us has a part and is needed in the Church of
Jesus Christ.
It is all about Him – our great Redeemer!
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son
of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”
– Galatians ch2 vs20.
Give your all to this most wonderful Saviour today, tomorrow
and for all eternity!
No comments:
Post a Comment