Open Up!

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Open Up!

Michael Pickford

Among the four Gospels, Matthew’s is the first. There is a great deal to learn about this man called Matthew. He was an apostle of the Lord. He was also chosen to be a penman in the hands of God to write an account of the Lord’s birth, ministry, death and resurrection. We have the record of Mathew’s call to apostleship in Matthew 9:9-13. Matthew was previously a tax collector. Tax collectors were especially despised by the Jews. Many of them were Jews themselves, but, they were despised, if not considered unclean, by the mainstream Jewish sects. They were generally dishonest men who essentially stole from the people as they collected unwarranted tax money. Matthew was sitting in his tax office when Jesus approached him. He had been looking into the faces of men who despised him all day long. What a joy it must have been when he looked up and saw the loving, kind face of the Savior. When Matthew met Jesus, he opened up. Matthew opened up his heart to Jesus. When Jesus said “follow me,” Matthew “arose and followed Him.” It is so important and essential that we learn from Matthew to open up our hearts unto Jesus. There are many who hear the saving Gospel and close their hearts. They put off obedience to the Lord either through rebellion or procrastination. They fail to open up their heart. When one hears and believes the Gospel, it is important that he obey from the heart that form of doctrine (Rom. 6:17). Otherwise, he will be punished with everlasting destruction (2 Thess. 1:7-9). Open up your heart to Jesus in obedience! Not only did Matthew open up his heart, but he opened up his home for Jesus (Matt. 9:10). We open up our home to Jesus every time we show hospitality by having folks over (Matt. 25:40). We open up our homes to Jesus by living godly and only allowing godly things in our homes. If we drink, cuss, practice fornication, etc. in our homes, we have shut the door to Jesus. The same is true if we allow others to do the same by way of the television. Jesus isn’t comfortable in those types of situations, because He doesn’t approve of the actions that many entertain themselves with on the TV in their homes. Have you opened up your home to Jesus? Or, have you made Him unwelcome? Deny ungodliness in your home (Titus 2:12). Provide an atmosphere that would make the Lord feel at home in your house. Matthew opened up not only his heart and his home, he also opened up his hands for Jesus. He went out and preached the Gospel (Matt. 10:1-4). He put his hands to work for the Lord. It is essential that Christians open up their hands for the Lord. We need to be busy living godly and setting forth the right teaching example by the way we live (Matt. 5:13-16; Phil. 2:14-16). We need to open up our hands for the Lord by trying to teach the Gospel to our friends, neighbors, co-workers, family, etc.. We need to open up our hands by studying, praying, and attending church services. We need to open up our hands by working for the Lord, just as Matthew did, and, just as we are commanded and created in Christ to do (Eph. 2:10; Titus 2:14). Matthew left all in order to open up for Jesus. He opened up his heart, his home, and his hands for the Lord. Don’t shut the Lord out of your life...Open Up!!!



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