What did the Lord see when he looked at Matthew? Perhaps He saw a man who was willing to pay the price. Paying the price is always easier to say in concept than live by experience. Yet it is one of those philosophies of life that one must be sure to understand (Matthew 16:21-26). Shortly after I arrived on Guam (1984) I struck up a friendship with another fellow. It was not long before he and I had our differences. Those differences were magnified by him in his criticisms of me. Did he see a lamp hanging down from my wagon that he criticized me or did I put that light out? This is a challenge that each of us have. Will we see the Lord’s light or will we not? We all have to pay a price when we place a higher value on something than we previously did. I placed a higher value on the Lord and the price I paid, though not as great as many, was still a price paid. When the Lord’s teachings reside in the heart of a person there is bound to be a life changed. It is said that when a woman resides in the heart of a man he does funny things. Well, when the Lord resides in the heart of a person that person does not do funny things, but he (she) does righteous things.
Ron Thomas reflects on what the Lord saw in Matthew. A man willing to give it all up for the call.