One of my favorite Bible Stories is a story that is often overlooked. It’s a story that is only one verse long. Thirty words. One complete sentence with a two word quote. It’s such a short story that most people don’t even consider it a story, yet it speaks so much to the reality of Christianity.
I’ll tell you the story, but first I want to give you an alternate version. Once you’ve heard both versions, take a moment and decide which version sounds more like your life.
Version One
One day a man named Matt was sitting at his desk. Matt worked for the IRS and was quite successful. He had many friends… well, he had many people that called him a friend, but truthfully they only liked his money. Most people who knew him really didn’t like him because of his occupation. For years Matt had sat at the same desk, collecting taxes from people, but for the last few weeks he had been hearing talk around town about a new guy that had been performing miracles and wonders. He was feeding people free meals, healing them, and teaching them with a passion and love that they had never seen before.
On this particular day, Matt was thinking of the things he had been hearing about this new stranger, and as he stared at his desk, he realized he was staring at a shadow of a man across his scattered paperwork. He looked up to see the stranger standing right there in front of him.
The man stretched out his hand toward Matt. Matt reached up and shook his hand, and as he stared at him in disbelief, the man said, “Matt! My name is Jesus. I’m the Son of God, and it’s a real honor to meet you. I’d like to offer my services to help you out, if you will let me.”
Matt could hardly believe his great fortune as Jesus continued, “You see, I’ve known you since before you were born, and I know that you struggle sometimes. Many people don’t like you, and frankly, a lot of your co-workers are doing much better than you. But don’t worry! I’m here to help you out. If you just believe in me, and let me follow you around for awhile, I’ll show you how to be much more successful, happy, healthy, and how to get everything your heart desires. As a matter of fact, I’m working on a book deal right now, and I know my book is going to really help you achieve your goals in life. So, if you’re okay with it, I’d like for you to invite me into your life so I can follow you around and make sure everything goes smooth for you. I really want you to be successful in your goals. What do you say?”
Naturally, Matt invited Jesus into his life, and the two of them went back to his house to talk about their game plan.
Version Two
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. (Matt 9:9 ESV)
If you haven’t figured it out yet, Version Two is the actual Biblical version, but we often live our lives as though the Jesus in Version One is the Jesus who wants a relationship with us. We live as though Jesus wants us to invite him into our lives, fix all of our problems, bless us with riches and success, and make our lives comfortable in exchange for just acknowledging that he exists. In reality, that Jesus doesn’t exist.
Jesus, the real Jesus, isn’t waiting for you to invite him into your life so he can follow you around. No. He’s actually inviting you to follow him, just like he did Matthew. Jesus said two words to Matthew, “Follow me.” Matthew did exactly that. He go up, left his desk, and followed Jesus. And he didn’t stop following Jesus at the end of the day. He continued following Jesus the rest of his life.
Stop and think for a second about the idea of inviting Jesus, the SON OF GOD, to follow us around. Aren’t Christians supposed to be FOLLOWERS of Jesus Christ, not masters of him? Aren’t Christians supposed to be doing the Will of God? It seems that most spend their time trying to dictate the Will of God. “God, I need this.” “God, I need that.” “God, help me this way.” “God, open these doors, not those.” “God, do this, and that, and bless me as I go about MY day.”
What if we, as true Christians not just the academic ones, stopped asking God to do our will, and instead we ask God to help us do HIS Will. Something like, “Father in Heaven, Holy is Your name! Show me Your Will, and let it be done in my life just like it is done in Heaven.”
Wow! What a concept! Asking God to show us what He wants us to do! Madness?? No. It’s called obedience. It resembles humility. It requires us acknowledging where and who God is, and where and who we are. He is God. We are His creation.
And once we get that very basic concept, we can move on to the promises He has given to us. We can ask Him to provide for the needs we have so that we can accomplish His Will. Something like, “And give us today what we need for today. Forgive me of the wrongs I have done as I walk in forgiveness of those who have wronged me, angered me, offended me, and treated me with all forms of disrespect. You forgive this undeserving me as I forgive those who don’t deserve my forgiveness.”
If we can get that far, then we can go all the way and make it a habit! “Lead me away from temptation to go back to my old ways, and deliver me out of the evils of this world.”
Wow. God is awesome in His ways! He deserves our praise! He is who He is, even if we don’t recognize who He is. Let us remind ourselves every day who He is! “For Yours, Most High God, is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory each and every day forever and ever.”
Amen.
Truth In Red Letters 