God's Pursuit of Us

Matthew Wasn’t Looking For Jesus

Matthew Wasn’t Looking For Jesus

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i don’t know about you, but i can’t say i found God because i was pursuing Him. Rather, He was pursuing me. And in that regard, i have a lot in common with Matthew. And perhaps, you do as well.

Most of the disciples that followed Jesus were people who were seeking the Messiah. They knew the Scriptures. They knew the prophecies. They were watchful and expectant that the Messiah would one day come – perhaps in their lifetimes. They had been greatly influenced by the ministry of John the Baptist. Most were influential members of their fishing villages. And though they were not religious leaders, they were respected and trusted within their local religious communities. Though they may not have been learned men,(1) in many respects they had a great pedigree to be followers of Jesus! Besides – as fishermen, they had great early training on how to be fishers of men!

But that wasn’t the case with Levi. He was a tax collector….