Now, a lot of people look at this story and think that God is sort of harsh. You obey or don't. He doesn't have time to sit around and wait for you to decide. Today I want to walk this out a bit. See, I think that He can be that way, but it's not His character to be impatient. At His core, God is a planner.
Throughout Christ's ministry, we see situations like this where He had a short encounter with someone, gave them a simple choice and the two went separate ways. Our assumption is, in most of these cases that people took their new-found freedom, told others about it and lived happily ever after. We know for a fact that this guy did.
But what about the ones who took a little longer to come around? who are those people?
Let's take a look at Matthew 9:
9 As Jesus was going on down the road, he saw a tax collector, Matthew,[c]sitting at a tax collection booth. “Come and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him, and Matthew jumped up and went along with him.
10 Later, as Jesus and his disciples were eating dinner at Matthew’s house,[d]there were many notorious swindlers there as guests!
11 The Pharisees were indignant. “Why does your teacher associate with men like that?”
12 “Because people who are well don’t need a doctor! It’s the sick people who do!” was Jesus’ reply. 13 Then he added, “Now go away and learn the meaning of this verse of Scripture,
‘It isn’t your sacrifices and your gifts I want—I want you to be merciful.’[e]
For I have come to urge sinners, not the self-righteous, back to God.”
Do you think it's any coincidence that earlier that day, Matthew was considered a tax collector and now there's a bunch of thugs hanging out at his house? I don't.
I think Matthew was looking for a way out of his current situation, and when Jesus gave him that chance, he jumped at it. A lot of times people jump into things, knowing it's a good deal, but don't always count the cost first. Maybe Matthew didn't realize that following Jesus would change everything about his life. Perhaps Jesus planned it that way.
Jesus is not an elitist. He didn't think He was too good to break bread with these guys, and he didn't want Matthew to think that either. In fact, if you look at the lives of the people Jesus associated most closely with, you'll see they were just people. They had fears and doubts. With each stop on their journey with Jesus, He showed them something new.
That is exactly what he wants to do with us. He wants us to walk with Him on this journey and to learn things along the way. When the rich man gave up his opportunity, it wasn't because following Jesus was too hard. It was because he wanted to know he could obtain salvation on his own.
That's not how God works. We don't have to be perfect. We don't have to change everything the second we accept Him. The only thing we have to do is trust Him. He will take care of the changing-us part. When we're scared, he might nudge us a little more. When we're resistant because we're uncertain, He might give that assignment to someone else more willing, but that doesn't mean he's given up on us. When we realize that we cannot do it alone and we accept Him fully, rest assured, He is happy to dine at your table, regardless of what else is there.
Jesus is not intimidated by sin. Look the end of verse 13- "I have come to urge sinners, not the self-righteous, back to God." He can't do a whole lot with a stubborn, unteachable, self-made person, not because He doesn't want to, but because he respects the free will he gave us. But sinners? Sinners in desperate need of Jesus are always welcome.
Wherever you are on your journey, I hope you know that Jesus loves you. He wants so badly to walk with you through the hard stuff you're going through. You can be a Matthew. You can say yes now, and let the rest work itself out over time. Just let him in. The only thing he needs to work in your life is an open door.
Dining at the mercy seat,
Lindarella
