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Jesus is Calling you today · UCT Youth Daily Devotion

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  Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and welcome to another
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  episode of our United Church of Tonga Youth Devotion.
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  Our Bible passage for today is taken from Matthew 9, verse 9, which says,
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  As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting in the text
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  collector's booth, and he said to him, Follow me.
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  And he got up and followed him.
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  Our theme for today, Jesus is calling you.
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  What would you do if you were the text collector Jesus called to follow him?
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  Text collectors worked for the Roman government and their work was considered shameful at the time.
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  The Jewish people did not like them because they were practically thieves.
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  They took more than they should have and they kept some for themselves.
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  Matthew was one of these tax collectors, and he was corrupt.
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  So who would want to hire someone with a corrupt life?
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  Jesus had just finished healing a paralyzed man and was continuing on his journey
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  when he saw Matthew working at the tax collector's booth.
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  He called out to him, Follow me.
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  Jesus knew Matthew's corrupt nature and work.
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  But what's interesting is that Jesus did not wait for Matthew to change his
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  ways before calling him.
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  Jesus had already chosen and predestined Matthew's life before the foundation
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  of this world to be one of his disciples.
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  He knew that no one can change Matthew's life but Jesus himself.
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  Here, Jesus also shows us that he calls people to follow him,
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  not based on our merits, but on his grace.
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  What's interesting is that Matthew did not refuse or rationalize with Jesus.
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  He straightaway stood up and obeyed the call. Maybe Matthew was just fed up with being corrupt.
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  Maybe he needed a new beginning or a new life.
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  Perhaps this is you today. Jesus is calling you to follow him.
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  Maybe he's been calling you over the last few years.
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  But what has been your excuse so far? That you're still young?
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  Or that you are too messed up to be used by Jesus?
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  You may be like Moses, saying that he can't speak in front of people.
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  You may say you're too busy. Maybe too busy with your studies, with work, with life.
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  When we respond to God's calling in faith and humility, He will work to transform us from the inside out.
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  No matter how corrupted our lives may be, Jesus calls us to follow Him.
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  He is merciful and loving.
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  His grace is sufficient for all. Let us pray.
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  Lord Jesus, give me the courage to be like Matthew and obey your calling for my life.
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  I apologize for making so many excuses not to follow you.
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  Take over my life today and transform me into the person you had planned for me to be.
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  In Jesus' name, Amen.