Matthew, Jesus Disciple

Good Morning! Usually I post in the evening but while my thoughts are still fresh thought I would post this morning instead. The study Bible that I read from has a lot of interesting articles and I read one about Matthew today that I thought was very good. Matthew was a tax-collector before he became a disciple of Jesus. Unlike many of the other disciples when he left his job to follow Jesus there was no turning back, this was guaranteed unemployment. Some of the other disciples were fishermen so if something didn't pan out with following Jesus they could always go back to fishing, in fact I believe they fished while following Jesus. Two changes happened to Matthew when he followed Jesus. He now belonged to Jesus and Jesus gave him a new purpose for his skills. "The only tool from Matthew's past job that he carried with him was his pen." God had made Matthew a records keeper from the beginning, this was a God-given skill for Matthew. Matthew was probably a keen observer and he probably recorded the events going on around him. Now we have a Gospel that bears his name, the book of Matthew in the New Testament. Just like Matthew we are a work in progress. I believe God has given each of us God-given talents or things that we really like to do that we can use for His glory. "Matthew couldn't have known that God would use the very skills he had sharpened as a tax collector to record the greatest story ever lived." I am sure that God has a meaningful purpose for us too...what to you like to do, what are your talents? God can use them for His purpose to bring glory to Him. For me, I don't know if blogging is my talent but I am really enjoying it and I pray that it will bring glory to God.

As for my Bible reading today in Matthew 9:1-7 Jesus healed a lame man but before he healed him he told the man that his sins were forgiven. I think this shows us that spiritual wellness is much more important than physical wellness. One day, as long as we already have spiritual wellness through Jesus, we will have physical wellness in Heaven. The Pharisees were really trying to "trap" Jesus in this chapter of Matthew, they accused Jesus of eating with sinners, which he did, but Jesus says He came to call those who know they are sinners not those who think they are righteous (Matthew 9:13). We are all sinners in need of a Saviour that is why Jesus came. He was the sacrafice for us because of His love, mercy, grace, and compassion he will save us. We only have to come to Him and ask for His forgiveness and trust Him to be our Saviour. He will save us for eternity if we truly trust Him (John 3:16).

(The quotes are from the NLT Study Bible)