January 11

⁹As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth.  “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.(Matthew 9:9)

Yeah, I went there.  Back-to-back jabs that I hope landed lik­e I intended them too.  When I was a produce manager for a highly successful grocery chain in Florida, I had an exchange with a sweet older woman about the forgiveness and grace of Jesus.  I honestly can not remember what initiated the conversation.  I almost created some colorful story to lead into how this exchange ended, but I digress and offer the truth that I plumb forgot.  Regardless, our discussion turned toward Jesus forgiving His followers, and I offered my cynical side.  I said that “I sure hope so.”  She asked why I would not be sure all Jesus’s followers would be offered the same grace as the initial church.  My argument was simple:  the world has had almost 2,000 years to teach the world to follow Jesus.  We’re not even close to where we should be for the amount of time God has given us.  Sure there are a lot of pluses, billions of Christians worldwide.  But with that many “Christians” our world is still in shambles.  Our governments are corrupt, our cities filled with crime and despair, and our churches full but lacking effect.   I’m not sure what answer you heard from God yesterday as you prayed for guidance as to how you should start to fully follow Jesus.  I hope you heard or felt something.  Perhaps it was a sense of peace that told you that now’s not the time to go all in.  But, if you felt anything else, it’s because the time is now.  It’s time to be just like Matthew.  Get up.  Follow Jesus.

Reading plan:  Matthew Chapter 9

Deeper reading plan:  add on Genesis Chapters 41-45

Prayer and meditation:  continue to pray for your request from day 1 and ask God for the courage to get up and run after Jesus.

Week 2 of Service:  Hopefully you’re making a second appearance at local outreaches.  If you haven’t found the right fit, keep looking and keep serving!  Only 50 weeks left!

Fitness challenge:  Cardio day, run/bike for 14 minutes