God knows my story: notes from a sermon

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,”he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Matthew 9:9-13 NIV

The man named Matthew— His name before Jesus was Levi. He was a tax collector. Before, he was a Jewish leader who oversaw the temple. Most people who knew him didn’t like him; he was extremely hard to love.

Matthew means gift from God. He was still called Levi but Jesus called him Matthew—a gift from God.

And when Jesus called him, Matthew got up immediately.

Well, why? Was he lonely? Was he remorseful? Did he want something more from life?

And why did Jesus call him Matthew? Because he was worth it. We’re all worth it.

There are times we feel that we don’t deserve the grace that Jesus gives us. How can I still be loved by him when I continue to be messed up? Well, Jesus knows my story.

There are tons of people struggling with the same stuff we are. And Jesus still meets them at the table.

Jesus knows you and still wants you even if and when other people don’t. He knows your whole story and desperately desires to be with you.

Jesus is inviting everyone—even me— to sit at the table with him. He knows your past but he still wants you right now. There are a lot of days we don’t feel like we deserve a place at the table. But Jesus points at the cross. Jesus makes us whole. Jesus will continue to invite us to the table. He will sit there with arms wide open until we decide to join him.

What’s holding me back from truly experiencing the love of Christ? What am I afraid of?

What are you afraid of?

These notes were taken on October 20th, 2020, at Christian Student Fellowship. Themessage was preached by Nathan Ayers.