First Impressions
The moment everything changed
Imagine being the most hated person in your town. That was Matthew. Tax collectors didn't just collect taxes—they worked for Rome, the enemy occupying Israel. They took money from their own families and neighbors to fund the empire that crucified people as a warning. Matthew was a traitor in everyone's eyes.
Then Jesus walked by. One sentence in verse 9 captures the entire moment: "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."
That's it. No long conversation. No probation period. No "clean up your act first." Just "Follow me." And Matthew got up and went. Think about what Matthew left behind—a lucrative career, financial security, his entire identity. But more importantly, think about what he walked toward: a completely new life with Jesus.
What stands out to you about this story? Maybe it's how quick the whole thing was. Maybe it's that Jesus chose someone everyone else had written off. Maybe it's that Matthew didn't hesitate. Whatever caught your attention, that's probably what God wants you to think about this week.
Sit with this
- 1If you had been standing there watching this happen, what would have surprised you most?
Journal prompt
Write about a time when someone saw potential in you that you didn't see in yourself. How did that change you?