Told His Story

When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." (Matthew 28:12-14 NIV)

Matthew wasn’t just a sinner.  God saw more in him than that.  Matthew was not just saved.  Jesus offered him more than that, too.  Matthew was invited by Jesus, taught by Jesus, and turned his life around to walk with Jesus. 

So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day. (Matthew 28:15 NIV)

Matthew started out as a man who probably would have accepted money like this to lie about what happened to Jesus at the tomb.  Now, though, Matthew is a different man.  He would tell the truth about Jesus even without financial gain.  He would hold to that truth even if it meant his own death.  Matthew would go to his final day proclaiming that Jesus had died and was now still alive.  Matthew’s life was changed.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:16-20 NIV)

When Jesus died, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven, Matthew was given a charge along with the rest of us.  He lived out this Great Commission the rest of his days.  He taught people about Jesus, bringing more and more people home to the Father through the Son so that they would receive the Holy Spirit.  Matthew told the stories about Jesus.  He wrote them down.  As he did, he was writing down his own story as well. 

Matthew told his story.  How about you?  Do you tell your story to others?  Do you let them know what a difference Jesus has made in your life?  Do you tell them how much God loves them and what God did to bring them home?  Are you like Matthew?