THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
Just as she entered her house from shopping, a lady saw a burglar. She dropped her shopping bags, and excitedly exclaimed, "ACTS 2:38!"
The burglar said, "Ma'am, I'm just here to rob you. I won't hurt you."
The lady loudly exclaimed, "ACTS 2:38!!"
The man turned pale, and told the lady to call the cops. When they arrived, he ran to them and surrendered!
Later, the burglar was asked why he was so willing to surrender. He said,
"That lady kept yelling she had an axe and two 38's!"
Acts 2:38 says, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
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________SCRIPTURE_____________________________________________________
Matthew 9:9
And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
KJV
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_______THOUGHT_________________________________________________________
This incident is recorded here in Matthew, and also in Mark 2 and Luke 5.
In each recording, the call of Matthew immediately follows the healing of the paralytic.
Jesus was walking along the public highway, and Matthew had a desk set up there to receive taxes. Nobody liked the tax collectors! But Jesus called to Matthew, and Matthew left what he was, and who he was to follow Jesus!
I believe this call of Matthew shows TOTAL commitment.
You see, his position of tax collector, once left, could never be regained.
And no one wanted to hire an ex-tax collector!
From this point on, Matthew had only ONE choice - JESUS!
And Matthew himself later explains that without total surrender there is no salvation.
"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (Matt. 16:24)
Immediately after his surrender, Matthew took Jesus to his own home and threw a big supper!
He was excited about his new life with Jesus and wanted everyone to know about it.
Let us be as excited about our surrender to Jesus!
Love ya,
Bruce