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TRACTS - Short biblical messages for distribution
TRACT 11 -- Follow Me! (Matthew 9:9)Whoever flies to a distant country on a recognized airline can see, after landing, a small car rush towards their plane and pull up in front of it. It drives slowly toward the place where the passengers disembark. On the roof of this small car you can see a large sign written with big letters, “FOLLOW ME.” The man who originated this phrase, “Follow me,” 2,000 years ago was Christ, the Son of Mary. He came from the mountains of Nazareth down into the deep valley of the Jordan River to the region near Lake Tiberias. Christ settled in Capernaum, an area where many roads intersected. There He healed all the ill people who came to Him. He called sinners to repentance from their evil deeds, and revealed His comforting Gospel to them. The broken-hearted and the handicapped came to Him from everywhere. Everybody that wanted to know the truth came from near and far. They all wanted to see this unique man who was able to perform astonishing miracles. They found divine power, guidance and relief in His words. In this district lived a tax collector named Matthew. He was an official for the Roman occupying power. He collected the customs taxes for the Romans from travelers and from everyone who transported trade goods. His own Jewish people cursed Him for assisting the Romans, and they hated him because he took as much taxes as he wanted from them. He knew the tricks of the travelers and uncovered the hiding places of the trader’s goods and forced them to pay customs. Nobody likes to pay custom fees, but Matthew was clever and was able to take in lots of money because of his shrewd experience. However, this customs official suffered from the rejection by his people in spite of the riches he acquired. His conscience bothered him and he wanted to find forgiveness for his dishonest gain and be freed from his love for money. He desired to overcome his hatred of those that hated him and longed for a peaceful life with a clean heart. After he heard about Jesus, who settled down in his town, he wanted urgently to see Him, with the hopes of getting from Him the help he needed. Matthew was searching for peace with God and with people, but as an official he was not able to publicly go to this fascinating man from Nazareth. However, what he heard from the words of Jesus and what He was doing, created in him more hope and desire to see Him and meet Him alone. Christ is able to see and read the thoughts of the heart. He saw a severe longing in the heart of this despised custom official, and perceived his readiness to accept His help. One day as He passed by the customs office, He saw Matthew gazing at Him. Jesus examined his heart, saw repentance, and commanded him with a single phrase, “Follow Me!” This customs official expected long ago to hear a word from God for him. So the moment he received the command of Christ, he recognized that he had to deliver himself immediately and fully to this man from Nazareth. From His command, Matthew could see that this Prophet does not despise him but was ready to accept him into the fellowship of His followers in spite of the fact that he was rejected by all the townspeople. This thought shot through his head and heart like lightning. He understood in the twinkle of an eye that he must act now or never. This is the chance of my life, he thought. So Matthew stood up immediately and turned over the office to another official and unconditionally followed Jesus. The multitude that followed Christ was astonished. They didn’t like the fact that the Great Healer accepted this traitor. Therefore Jesus made it clear to His followers what it means to follow Him and spoke to them the following revelation: "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it." (Matthew 16:24-25) Jesus explains, by these words to His disciples, seven secrets that we all should know and understand:
Matthew, the evangelist, experienced these different steps in following Christ. He comprehended the commandments of Jesus in His new law, kept them in his heart and wrote them down precisely. (Read Matthew 5:1 - 7:29) The other Apostles ordained him to collect and preserve the words of Christ (Luke 1:2). He wrote the longest of all the Gospel accounts. He did not write his own thoughts but recorded Jesus in His words, deeds and prayers. It is accepted that Matthew was a faithful witness to his loving Lord. We read in the revelation of Christ to John that Matthew will be one of the precious foundation stones for the New Jerusalem in heaven (Revelation 21:14, 19-20). Matthew had left his office and his riches for the sake of following Jesus. Traveling around with Jesus was not easy, but he learned to be satisfied with little as the Lord provided for him daily. He was once a director of customs and held power over people; however, in the following of Jesus, he had to endure the hatred of the pious that had rejected Christ. He fled with the other disciples in the night when Jesus was taken into custody and sentenced. Previously Matthew was an independent ruler over his employees. But by following Jesus, he had to learn obedience and submission. Matthew had left his earthly security and learned to be satisfied in the care of his Lord. He left his loneliness from being outcast for his work with the Romans, and entered into the fellowship of the followers of Jesus. Christ freed him from his sins and brought him into His own holiness. The Lord saved him from the condemnation of his conscience so that he could live in peace with God and people. Matthew escaped the isolation of this world by the power of the Holy Spirit through the love of God, His Son and His followers. Jesus commanded Matthew: “Follow Me!” He did not ask him to follow a philosopher or a political party, but told him to follow the incarnate Word of God. Jesus was the only guarantee for his future and his success. Therefore the Lord became to Matthew his Healer, Sanctifier, Deliverer, Redeemer and source of strength in life. Jesus is Matthew’s Savior. The Lamb of God died as Matthew’s substitute in the judgment. Therefore Matthew believed in Him and confessed in writing with the words of Peter, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16) Dear Reader, WATERS OF LIFE Internet: www.waters-of-life.net |