When Jesus Calls You
Matthew 9:9 (BSB)
“As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. ‘Follow Me,’ He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.”
As I read this passage, I’m struck by something very simple: Matthew wasn’t looking for Jesus. He was sitting at his tax booth, living his life. But Jesus came to him.
What a beautiful picture of God’s grace in salvation.
Before we ever loved Jesus, God loved us. Before we ever chose Him, He chose us in Christ. Ephesians 1 tells us that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world. Romans 8 tells us that those whom He predestined, He also called, justified, and glorified.
That tells me that salvation is not ultimately about how well we found God. It is about how graciously God came looking for us.
We were dead in our sins and unable to save ourselves. But Jesus calls His own. He gives us spiritual life, opens our eyes to who He is, and creates faith in our hearts.
Matthew got up and followed Jesus because Jesus called him.
Fellow follower of Jesus, rejoice in this: your salvation did not begin with your hold on Jesus. It began with His hold on you.
And if Jesus is calling you today, don’t turn away. Repent of your sins, trust in Jesus Christ alone, and follow Him.
When Jesus calls you, follow Him.