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Read: Matthew 9:9
Listen: Matthew 9

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. Matthew 9:9

Jesus encounters Matthew, a tax collector who is despised for collaborating with Rome and exploiting his own people. Jesus invites Matthew into a new life with two simple words: “Follow me.” For Matthew, this means leaving behind his career, social connections and way of life. Following Jesus offered no guarantees of comfort or security. Yet Matthew had likely seen the miracles and heard of Jesus’s authority. So, without hesitation, he rises and follows Jesus. Matthew chooses security in Jesus and affection for him over everything else.

Like Matthew, we face a daily choice to follow Jesus or go our own way. This decision affects every part of our lives, including our entertainment choices, who we date or marry, how we spend our free time and how we resolve conflict. Following Jesus means reorienting our entire lives around him and his kingdom’s purposes. It’s not just a one-time choice but a continual surrender of our will to his (Matthew 6:9-10). This path isn’t always easy, but it leads to true fulfillment and eternal significance. Jesus doesn’t promise a trouble-free life, but he does promise his constant presence and power through the Holy Spirit as we trust and follow him.

TODAY: Commit to taking a concrete step to follow Jesus more closely this fall. You could join a small group, establish a daily Bible reading habit or find a place to serve in the church or community. Choose one action and share your commitment with a friend for accountability.

JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT:

Read Ezekiel 27-28. Highlight anything that points to Jesus. Pay attention to the fall of Tyre and its king. Think about how Jesus is over all worldly powers (Ephesians 1:19-23).