I don’t know all of the details surrounding Matthew 9:9 but what stood out to me is that, “Matthew got up and followed him”. He didn’t gather all of his belongings, swing by his house, make a few phone calls, and then pencil Jesus into his busy schedule. No, “he got up and followed him”. He dropped everything he was doing to be with Jesus. There was no hesitation or room for reconsideration. I read once that, “delayed obedience is disobedience”. Matthew obeyed.
Deep down, my heart wants to be like Matthew but all too often my obedience is delayed by fear of what others will think, if I have time, and what it will cost me.
Lord, remove the barriers in our life that keep us from following you wholeheartedly. May we be a people that get up and follow you!