Subscription Lists
Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
In Luke Chapter 5 at Verse 27, we read of the calling of Levi. This is Matthew and he is at work collecting taxes, and he is called while doing his everyday work. Matthew would not be expecting anything special to happen.
Is this not one of the wonders of serving Jesus Christ and preaching the Gospel and teaching the Scriptures? We never ever know what is going to happen.
We learn of this as we read the book of Acts and we are taught these lessons in the letters. As we proclaim the Word of God we never know what He is doing.
Now, do remember that these tax collectors at that time were thieves - rogues - rascals – and corrupt. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and when he met Jesus Christ his life was totally transformed.
Never write anyone off. Never discard anyone as being totally useless as far as spiritual matters are concerned. We never know.
Jesus wanted Matthew. Did Jesus see He could make something out of Matthew? Did Jesus see an able man who needed a challenge – a man with potential – a man who would rise to the challenge – a man who could produce the goods?
“Follow Me.” There is no persuasion, and no arm twisting or interview, nor argument or resistance on the part of Matthew.
There are times when it is good to look back and reflect with thanksgiving and praise and worship when you see how Almighty God has planned your life, and when you see how He led you to come to know Him, and love Him, and serve Him.
God formed us to be in His family, and God created us and saved us and rescued us to become like Jesus.
God has called us to love other people and to show that love by serving other people.
And after being called, God would have us grow up and mature spiritually, as we come under the gracious discipline of Jesus Christ and His Word.
God chooses us and shapes us and forms us for a mission. We know very little about it at the start, but the picture unfolds as the months and years go by.
When I was called by Almighty God at the age of eight, I could never have imagined how exciting and thrilling and costly and demanding life would become, and particularly over these past ten years with preaching and teaching visits to Uganda and Kenya, when I thought my period of ministry was coming to a close.
Remember too, that we are immortal, until our work is completed down here.
Matthew’s first reaction was to throw a party. Is that what we teach people to do when they meet Jesus Christ and when they are called by Jesus Christ?
He used the opportunity. Here is evangelism in its simplest form, and within a short time he is facing criticism.
"Why is Jesus at a party with that crowd when there are nice people like us?"
Jesus saw sin like a disease. They were not interested in repentance and faith and discipleship, and Jesus deals with the critical comments in a masterly manner.
It is quite amazing how these two groups appear from the very start of the ministry of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and these two groups are still with us today.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
Receive the newest devotional each week in your inbox by joining the "Word from Scotland" subscription list. Enter your email address below, click "Go!" and we will send you a confirmation email. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your addition to this list.