Follow Me

by Mitchell Tan
January 13, 2022

THE CALL TO FOLLOW THE LORD JESUS

We want to thank God for the recent inclusion of the ISS lessons on the Bethany website. It is wonderful to know that Biblical teachings are being taught and specially catered for our young people. Pastor began in his first lesson by speaking on the Lord’s call of Matthew to follow Him.

“As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ So he arose and followed Him.”
Matthew 9:9

Matthew was a tax collector and he was probably one of those who was really hated by the people because of his profession. Tax collectors were considered by the Pharisees as “sinners” because they tended to charge much higher taxes than they should. They were seen as “collaborators” working with the Romans. And thus, they were despised by many. And yet, the Lord specially chose Matthew and called him to follow Him. What does it mean for one to follow the Lord?

1. APPRECIATING THE PRIVILEGE OF FOLLOWING THE LORD

Despite being a grave sinner, the Lord Jesus was still so gracious towards Matthew by reaching out to him and calling him to follow Him. He was given this privilege of being His disciple. The calling of Matthew is an illustration of the Lord’s grace in a person’s life. The focus is on the person who called him.

The Lord calling us to follow Him is indeed a wonderful privilege.

2. LEARNING TO HAVE A DEEPER FAITH IN THE LORD

Being a disciple of the Lord Jesus is also about learning to have a deeper faith in Him. There must first be that genuine faith in the Lord in order for one to follow the Lord. Matthew learnt to develop his faith in Him as he was taught by Him.

As we know more about the Son of God, there can be the deepening of faith in Him.

3. LEAVING THE PAST SINFUL LIFE

Matthew, as he exercised faith in the Lord, left his old sinful life. He repented of his sins and stopped being a tax collector. He honoured the Lord Jesus with a great feast (Luke 5:29) and even invited his fellow tax collectors so as to reach out to them and to say goodbye to them.

Following Jesus is also about seeking the forgiveness of sin and leaving behind one’s past sinful life.

4. SEEKING TO LIVE A NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

Matthew followed the Lord in obedience to His call. He sought to live no longer for himself and earthly riches but for Him and heavenly riches. He sought to have a new life in Him. This is highly instructive of the work that the Lord can do in a person’s life.

We too can have the faith to obey Him and to seek to live a new life in Him.

THE RESULTS OF FOLLOWING THE LORD

Matthew went on to serve the Lord and to write the gospel of Matthew. From a sinner, a most unlikely person to be called, he became a servant of the Lord. He bore witness of the Lord Jesus as the prophesied Messiah. There was the Lord’s amazing grace in his life.

PERSONAL APPLICATION

We too can experience the Lord’s mercy and grace in our lives.

1. FOR SEEKERS

Thank God that sins can be forgiven and a new life can be found. Our part is to have genuine faith in the Lord Jesus before we start following Him.

2. FOR BELIEVERS

Let’s answer the call to follow Him and to learn from Him. Let’s be challenged to deepen our faith in the Lord. Let’s seek to ultimately bear witness of His amazing grace in our lives.

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