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- Apr 25, 2006
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Jesus believes in you!
'Follow me, and I will make you...' MATTHEW 4:19
Jesus doesn't invite us to follow Him because we believe in Him. He invites us to follow Him because He believes in us! He says, 'Follow me and I will make you...' He knows what we can become when His grace touches our lives. Matthew, a Jew, collected taxes for the Romans who enslaved his people. That made him a double-crosser and a back-stabber; in other words he was lower than scum. Even so, Jesus knew there was potential for goodness and greatness in him.
Years later Matthew would end up writing the first book in the New Testament. If you know anything about the Bible you'll know that this selection wasn't a one-off, Jesus had a habit of choosing the sort of people everyone else would leave on the subs bench. One of the mad things about the 12 guys Jesus chose to be His 'inner circle' is that after three years of being around His miracles and messages, some still had questions and doubts. But did he give up on them? No, He just shared with them this promise, 'I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit who will help you and always be with you' (John 14:16 CEV).
He knew there would never be a day when they wouldn't need heaven's help. The amazing thing is that the prayer He prayed includes you too; yes you! Jesus believes in you!
written by Bob Gass
'Follow me, and I will make you...' MATTHEW 4:19
Jesus doesn't invite us to follow Him because we believe in Him. He invites us to follow Him because He believes in us! He says, 'Follow me and I will make you...' He knows what we can become when His grace touches our lives. Matthew, a Jew, collected taxes for the Romans who enslaved his people. That made him a double-crosser and a back-stabber; in other words he was lower than scum. Even so, Jesus knew there was potential for goodness and greatness in him.
Years later Matthew would end up writing the first book in the New Testament. If you know anything about the Bible you'll know that this selection wasn't a one-off, Jesus had a habit of choosing the sort of people everyone else would leave on the subs bench. One of the mad things about the 12 guys Jesus chose to be His 'inner circle' is that after three years of being around His miracles and messages, some still had questions and doubts. But did he give up on them? No, He just shared with them this promise, 'I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit who will help you and always be with you' (John 14:16 CEV).
He knew there would never be a day when they wouldn't need heaven's help. The amazing thing is that the prayer He prayed includes you too; yes you! Jesus believes in you!
written by Bob Gass
