How does the ministry of Jesus impact my life today? In today”™s devotional one of the lessons is: He is more concerned with my relationship with the living God than He is with my physical well-being. When He heals any part of me, He does so to point to His power and authority to forgive me my sins (and yours).

Another lesson is He calls us to follow Him, He calls us as individuals.

Another lesson is: I need to respond to Him when He calls”¦by spending time with Him in reading His word and talking with Him. Adoration of God (Praising Him for Who He is); Confessing sins (agreeing with Him for specific sins which He wants to forgive in my life); Thanking Him for specific things (not using a blanket statement); Specific Requests (that are important and cause concern).

Jesus”™ ministry was well under way, people were being healed, a storm on Lake Galilee had been calmed, a paralytic forgiven and healed in the town of Capernaum ““ a busy life of interaction with individuals and crowds. Jesus made Himself available.

Jesus makes Himself available for you today.

(NASB) Matthew 9:9 “As Jesus went on from there”¦”

Jesus had just left a crowd who was praising God for giving this man power and authority to forgive sins (spiritual healing) and to heal physically. (See Matthew 9:1-8)

(NASB) Matthew 9:9 “He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector”™s booth;”¦”

This man was a Jew who collected taxes for Rome ““ a man whose occupation made him a target to be hated by the Jews.

Jesus would have known this, but this did not deter Him from focusing on this tax collector ““ this individual who would later write the Gospel of St. Matthew.

Jesus sees individuals ““ He sees you and me as individuals also.

(NASB) Matthew 9:9 “and He said to him, “˜Follow Me!”™ And he got up and followed Him.”

When Jesus calls you, how do you respond?