Day 14- FOUNDATION STONES IN A YEAR

Reading: Matthew 9:9 -13, Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32

This week, as we look at the humanity of Jesus, we’ve been seeing that Jesus had to come as a man in order to seek and save the lost – and then, begin to lead them into their own callings and destinies. 

Just as simply as the fishermen were called, so was Levi called while he was about his normal occupation, sitting in his tax collector’s booth. Jesus stops, looks at him, and then says, “Follow me.” Levi gets out of his booth and he follows Jesus. 

His following of Jesus leads to him being given a name change, from Levi to Matthew, which means ‘gift of God’. This amazing change of name was possibly a reflection of the radical change he experienced when he accepted the call of Jesus. There are so many underlying stories in this retelling of Levi leaving his booth behind to become Matthew the disciple. One thing is certain though, he was never the same, either in trade or in name, after Jesus called him and he made the decision to follow. 

Too often our identity is founded on the job we are doing rather on the name that God calls us by. You may be the best doctor or bricklayer in the world, which are both fine and useful professions - but they are limited. When you are a child of the Living God the possibilities are endless.

We each have a choice to make concerning how we will be identified – as a carpenter or as an ambassador of Christ, as a teacher or as a follower of Christ. 

Prayer

Dear God, please share with me the name You gave me before I was born.

For the family

Explain the study in an age-appropriate way then tell each child what the meaning of their names are.