There are two types of people in the world: planners and those who wait for others to make plans for them. Which type are you? If you are a planner, you know that planning gives you a sense of control or comfort, knowing what you can expect in the future and how to prepare. While planning is often necessary and helpful, we are never the ones in control of our plans. You see, God is in control of the future and our plans, and His plans for us are greater than we could dream or imagine.
Jesus showed each one of His disciples that He had more incredible plans for their lives and would do more extraordinary things through them than they could imagine. They were living their routine lives, working various jobs in order to support themselves when Jesus interrupted them with an invitation: follow Me. One of these disciples was Matthew, and we can read about his story in Matthew 9. Before he met Jesus, Matthew was a tax collector. Because He collected taxes from Jewish people on behalf of the Roman government, the Jews despised him. Jesus saw him as he was sitting at his tax collector's booth and said to him, "Follow me and be my disciple" (verse 9). That simple invitation changed everything for Matthew. He went from being a despised tax collector to a follower of Jesus. Jesus completely interrupted Matthew's plan. He had greater plans for Matthew than Matthew could have ever dreamed of. Instead of being a tax collector, Matthew would be one of Jesus' 12 disciples and go on to write one of the books of the New Testament that he aptly named "Matthew."
Just like Jesus interrupted Matthew's plans for his life for something better, He steps in and interrupts our lives. He has better and bigger plans than we could imagine for ourselves. We get to be a part of His story. The parts we all play in His story are different, but they are all significant. Some of us are invited to literally go across the world and share the gospel as missionaries. Others lead a small group locally. Others serve in living free and share their stories of how Christ changed their lives. We each get to follow Christ and invite others to do the same in our own unique ways.
We all have plans, hopes, and dreams for our lives, and while they may be good, God's plans for our lives are even better than we could imagine. He invites us into His story to make Him known to those around us. His invitation to join His story and spread His message is the privilege of a lifetime.
Spend some time today surrendering your plans to God. Listen to your favorite worship song and pray. Ask God to lead and guide every step you take. Ask Him to prepare you for the plans He has in store, and commit to following Him wherever He leads.
1Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town. 2 Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.”
3 But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, “That’s blasphemy! Does he think he’s God?”
4 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? 6 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
7 And the man jumped up and went home! 8 Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for giving humans such authority.
9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.
10 Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. 11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”
12 When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” 13 Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
