One of the Best Reasons to Thank and Praise God

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Can you imagine?

As Jesus was walking along, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed Him.

Matthew 9:9

It sounds so simple…

But following Jesus meant that Matthew would have to walk away from a less than honorable yet, very lucrative career.

I love that he didn’t even hesitate . . . Jesus called and Matthew followed.

Jesus didn’t wait for Matthew to get his act together before He called him. He called him first . . . while He was still a sinner.

And when Jesus was criticized later for hanging out with sinners at Matthew’s home, He said…

I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Matthew 9:13b

Friend, that is the Good News of grace for you and me. That is a reason for thanks and praise.

Jesus doesn’t wait for us to give up sin before we come to Him. He invites us to “follow” Him with the promise that when we do He will help us.

I love the way the Life Application Bible Notes add:

Those who are sure that they are good enough can’t be saved because the first step in following Jesus is acknowledging our need and admitting that we don’t have all the answers.

It’s admitting our need for Him and receiving His power to change.

 I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.

Ezekiel 36:26–27

You and I don’t have to be perfect to follow Jesus. He calls us to simply surrender to Him and allow Him to mold and make us into people who want to trust and obey Him.

And that is…

One of the Best Reasons to Thank and Praise God

Lord, thank you for loving me while I was still a sinner. Thank you for inviting me to follow You while I was a broken mess. Thank you for giving me what I needed to turn around and walk away . . . to follow You with a tender responsive heart.

Please help me praise and glorify You with everything I say and do. Please help me use my story to tell people how much You love them. Use me to invite them to the beautiful life of freedom in Jesus You want for us all.

Thank you for loving sinners. Thank you for loving me. I give myself to You as an offering of thanks and praise for who You are and for all You have done and all You continue to do. I love You! Amen.

Friend, know that Jesus is saying to you, “FOLLOW ME.” He is inviting your loved ones to “FOLLOW” and your annoying neighbor, and the politician you can’t stand, as well as the hypocrite at church. He isn’t waiting for any of us to get our act together. He simply wants us to “follow” and trust Him to help us with the rest.

And that is one of the best reasons to thank and praise God.

So, today’s post-it note words are simply:

FOLLOW ME!

You can read all of Matthew 9 here.

God bless you today and you trust and follow Him!

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