A New Destination

Matthew, once a tax collector and very wealthy, had a fine house. I’m not sure what the modern equivalent would be, but let’s just say it was a beautiful place. It was the place where Matthew’s "old" life took place, and when Matthew receives the key to his house from his father in this episode, he hesitates to take it. “I’ll never live in that house again,” he says. He doesn’t want to go back to that place.

I’m filling in the blanks a bit here: he doesn’t want to go back to that place of memories, of loneliness, of injustice. Never again.

“You’ll find a new purpose for it,” his father says.

A new purpose.
The old has passed.
Something new is coming.
And that is God’s work.

Of course, I’m applying this a bit here, but if we believe in Jesus and follow Him, we are all a new creation.

The old has passed.
We live in something new.
And that is God’s work in your life.

And yet, you still live with who you are, with what you’ve experienced—and physically—where you live, with the things you have, or the things you’re good at. What do you do with that?

Give them a new purpose. Entrust them to Master Jesus: “Lord, here I am with everything I am and have—let it all serve for the good of Your kingdom.”

That’s what you see happening throughout this episode. Matthew offers his house for "ministry." It’s amazing how what we have can be used to serve. For Matthew, it was a house. For someone else, it might be a specific skill, or time, or money, or—fill in the blank.

Let everything in your life find a new purpose—a new purpose in Jesus.

Because the old has passed away, and the new has come—in Jesus.

Take the following questions with you to reflect on:

• Do you experience this "newness" in your life? How?
• Is there something that God brings to your mind that you can give for the "ministry?"
• How can you make that concrete?

Prayer: “Lord Jesus, thank You that in You everything is new. Everything. Including me, including who I am and what You have entrusted to me. Lord, here I am. I want to follow You with all that I am and have. Let it fulfill its purpose, Lord. Use it, and employ it for Your glory and honor. Lord, I give You the ‘key’ to my house. You are in charge. Amen.”

P.S. This is the last day of this Reading Plan. We hope it has helped you as a follower of Jesus and that you have enjoyed it.

The materials in this reading plan come from Alongsiders, an European discipleship movement, and Jesus.net.

Of course, there is much more to discover! Do you want to take the next step? Do you have a heart for discipleship and do you want to know more about how to follow Jesus together with others? Visit our website.