Day 2 - Matthew: A Surrendered Man
Scripture Reading: (Matthew 9:9-13) 9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. 10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” When Jesus called Matthew, He found him sitting at a tax collector's booth. Tax collectors were often wealthy, powerful, and hated. Matthew had likely spent years building a life centered around financial security and personal success. Yet when Jesus said, "Follow Me," Matthew immediately got up and followed.
Think about what Matthew left behind at that moment. He walked away from a stable income, influence, comfort, and certainty. He left what was familiar in exchange for following Jesus into the unknown.
Why would he do that?
Because Matthew discovered something every man eventually learns, what the world offers can never fully satisfy the soul. Success, possessions, status, and achievement make poor saviors. They promise fulfillment but often leave us wanting more.
Jim Elliot famously said, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
Every man is following something. Some follow success. Some follow comfort. Some follow approval. Some follow control. The question isn't whether we're following something - it's what we're following.
Following Jesus often requires surrender. Sometimes He asks us to surrender a habit. Sometimes fear. Sometimes an idol we've built our identity around. Yet every act of surrender creates space for deeper trust and greater freedom.
As we prepare for the conference, we should honestly ask whether there is anything we are clinging to that is preventing us from fully following Christ.
Reflection:
Is there one thing in my life right now (career, control, comfort, security, success, or something else) that I am holding onto too tightly?
What would trusting Jesus with that area actually look like?
Prayer: Lord, You know everything there is to know about me. Reveal anything that is keeping me from following and trusting You fully. Holy Spirit, give me the courage, power, and perseverance to surrender whatever You reveal.