The story of Matthew, (Mark 2:13-14, Matthew 9:9, Luke 5:27-28).

A tax collector, they were despised as collaborators with the occupying Romans.

They were excluded from the religious life. Jews, without fellowship with other Jews.

Yet here we find Jesus, “Come, follow me.  (Join with me, Change your life).

And Matthew, (Levi), did.  Being a tax collector, he left his friends, his income, possibly his family.

Just like when Peter, Andrew, James and John were called.

They had just landed the biggest catch as fishermen in their lifetimes, but left it on the beach.

To follow, to join with, Jesus.  They recognized the Authority and Power with which he spoke.

We understood that Power the moment our lives changed, as we in repentance turn towards Him.

We need to leave our old life behind. Turn to and Walk towards Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

I cannot understand, why we don’t continue closer, to seek His face, to ask the Holy Spirit to draw us close, to teach us to walk with Him.

It is like, we are Adam and Eve before the fall.

The Lord desires to Walk and Talk with us.  He does this first by our reading and understanding His Word.

Sometimes, it is confusing .  Yes, there are parts that will remain a mystery, until the time for its revelation.

Deuteronomy 29:29
“The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

There is so much revealed, that we haven’t accepted.  We don’t understand, and rather than asking the Holy Spirit to reveal and teach His meaning, we ask the unbelieving believers, and take their Word over the Word of God.

STOP IT…  STOP IT… STOP IT!!!

We are responsible for knowing, studying and understanding the Word ourselves.  We need to judge, what we hear.

To check for ourselves, we are hearing and learning the Word of God.

Not the Word of Bill theunfetteredpreacher Cote, or of Luther, Wesley, Graham or even our local Pastor.

We are charged to:  Know the Word, by reading the Word, Meditating  on the Word, sharing the Word, with others, that is when we know that we know, the Word.

None of us own the truth.  We can discover that truth though,  we need to ask the Holy Spirit, his job is to comfort, teach, lead us, to all truth.

ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO DO HIS WORK .

It is easy.  Open your heart and mind.  Love the Lord, obey His Commandments. Love God, Love your neighbor.

Read His Word, the Author is revealed.

Mark 2:13-14King James Version (KJV)

13 And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.
14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.
Matthew 9:9King James Version (KJV)

9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
Luke 5:27-28King James Version (KJV)

27 And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.
28 And he left all, rose up, and followed him.