Devotion:
Read Matthew 9:9-13.
You have probably heard or read about the tax collectors during the time when Jesus was among us. They were Jews, but they worked for the Romans, collecting taxes from among the people for that government. According to the population of their area, they were assigned a certain amount they were to collect, but they were allowed to collect beyond that amount to keep for themselves. Abuse of the system was rampant. They took advantage of their position to burden the people and line their own pockets. As you might imagine, they were intensely hated by the people.
Matthew was a tax collector. Jesus called him to be one of his twelve closest disciples. I have to wonder if he was not the one whose life was most radically changed because of this invitation and his acceptance of it. As he watched Jesus heal so many people and as he listened to what Jesus taught, his thinking and outlook on life and people had to change so drastically. As Jesus became so popular among the people because of all he was doing for them, many of them probably also changed their view of Matthew. Even though he no longer had the financial resources he used to have, his life was so much better. He was a new person! And the longer he was with Jesus, the more he continued to change. He changed so much, after Jesus was resurrected from the dead and was about to ascend back to heaven, Matthew was one who Jesus sent out to represent him as an apostle.
No matter what you are like, through Jesus Christ, you can become a changed person for the better. And no matter what that other person you have reservations about is like, through Jesus Christ they can become a changed person for the better. Wouldn’t it be great if you could somehow help that person come to know Jesus?
Personal Worship Option:
Who is that person you would love to see decide to follow Jesus? Ask God to help you work toward that happening.
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