We wish we knew more about Matthew. His name means "the gift of the Lord". Why did his parents call him by that name? Had they waited a long time for this boy? Both Mark and Luke used the name Levi when telling the story of Christ's call to him. Was he from the tribe of Levi? Had he ever served in the temple? We wish we knew more. The record says Jesus saw a man. He always does and sees the possibilities in that life if it is yielded to him. Matthew may represent for us the great crowd of ordinary people who serve Christ unknown to the world. There is no record of Matthew preaching although he must have done so. On the day of Pentecost he was filled with the Spirit as were all the other apostles. He is listed among the apostles in Acts 1 but he seems to have kept in the background always. It was a simple call which Christ gave that day in Capernaum – "Follow me", only two words. We sometimes think that any call to service has to be dramatic or some unusual vision. A few believers may receive their call that way. But usually it is the quiet voice of Christ in the heart, a conviction that this is the way He wants us to go. Matthew's response was immediate. He left his desk, his income, his business and followed Christ. The other disciples could go back to their fishing, but Matthew could never have returned to his tax office. It was a life-long commitment from the moment he stood up to follow Christ until the Lord called him Home. A QUESTION - How complete is our commitment to Christ and His service? |
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