Isaiah Pauley
  • Home
  • Bio
  • BLOG
  • Some Sermons
  • Home
  • Bio
  • BLOG
  • Some Sermons

Discipleship: Jesus chooses the unlikely

1/19/2019

Comments

 
Picture
Last week, I wrote about the origin of discipleship. It’s called salvation. My prayer is for everyone to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. But I know that’s not the case, so here’s part two of “Discipleship.”

Turns out, I’m not the only one who desires you to be saved. The Bible says God “… desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4 ESV).

What’s holding you back?
​
Maybe it’s a voice deep down inside of you that says, “You’re not good enough. You carry on too much. You sneak around too much. You cheat. Lie. Cuss. You’re just not Christian material.” Bull crap. That’s exactly what Satan wants you to think. Here’s the truth: Jesus chooses the unlikely. Let me show you.
The Bible says, “After this he [Jesus] went out and saw a tax collector named Levi [Matthew], sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And leaving everything, he rose and followed him” (Luke 5:27-28 ESV).

So here’s Jesus calling another disciple. That’s not the crazy part. The crazy part is who He’s calling. Matthew is a mess of a person, and the “good” people know it.

The story continues, “And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’” (v. 29-30 ESV).

You see, in those days, tax collectors were bad to the bone. These fellas worked for the Roman government, and the government needed money. So what did tax collectors do? They intentionally cheated people of their finances. They stole money. And they had a bad reputation. People hated these guys.

Here’s what Bible History Online says: “The tax collectors were usually Jewish and therefore they were hated by their own people. When they collected their taxes for Rome they would turn over the required amount of money, and whatever they could add on for themselves is what they kept.” It goes on to explain that tax collectors “… were treated similar to the worst kinds of sinners and prostitutes.”

So why in the world is Jesus asking a tax collector to be one of His disciples? Why is Jesus eating with these people? Because Jesus chooses the unlikely. He is a friend of sinners. If you still don’t believe me, let me show you another example.

“But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way [Christians], men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1-2 ESV).

Meet Saul. He kills Christians. He’s the worst of the worst. But for some reason, Jesus calls him to be a disciple.

While Saul is on his way to murder more followers of Christ, God approaches Him. The Bible says, “… suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’

And he said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’

And he said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do’” (v. 3-6 ESV).

Turns out, Saul is blinded. A guy named Ananias speaks to him on behalf of the Lord. God tells Ananias, “‘Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel’” (v. 15 ESV).

Wow. First a tax collector. Now a murderer. Why in the world does Jesus choose such nasty people to be His disciples? Need I say it again? Jesus chooses the unlikely.

Saul’s name is changed to Paul. The Apostle Paul. Probably the most respected man besides Jesus Christ in the New Testament.

This is a message for someone who feels too rambunctious to be a disciple of Jesus. If that’s you, God wants you to know that He is more than enough for you. He desires to redeem your life. Just like Matthew. Just like Paul.

We’re all sinners. None of us are good enough. But if you feel like you’re the worst of the worst, then know God sees your best. All it takes is a willing heart.
Comments

    Categories

    All
    Calling
    Christmas2019
    Church
    Classics
    Colossians Series
    Confidence
    Direction
    Discipleship
    Discipleship Series
    Doubt
    Ephesians Series
    Esther Series
    Expectations
    Failure
    Faith
    Fear
    Forgiveness
    Grace
    Grief
    Hope
    Identity
    Joy
    Justice
    Life
    Love
    Marriage
    Origins Of Christ
    Passion
    Peace
    Perspective
    Philemon Series
    Prayer
    (Re ) Series
    Rest
    Sacrifice
    Salvation
    Sin
    Student Ministry
    Surrender
    Thanksgiving
    Trust
    Work
    Worry
    Worship

    Archives

    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014

Proclaiming the Word through writing since 2014.

© 2022 Isaiah Pauley