Matthew 9:9  ⁹ As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.

Following Jesus means walking in his ways. It means turning away from doing things that do not please God: being concerned with ourselves to the detriment of others, selfishly working for #1. It means turning toward the way of Christ: reaching out to the poor, the oppressed, the broken, and the outcast.

When we follow Jesus and trust in his Lordship, he is able to make those changes in our lives. He transforms us and our thinking. He reveals those things that need to be discarded because they are harmful to us and to others. He gives us a distaste for our old decisions and a desire for the way of righteousness. Jesus gives us joy in helping others and a longing to do more for his kingdom.

Following Jesus will completely change our lives. We will never be the same.

Lord, you have said to us, “Follow me.” Help us to get up and follow. Amen.