I was looking again at the Jesus calling Matthew the tax collector. It is a remarkable story because Matthew is not seeking Jesus, he is doing OK on the surface, not popular but making good money albeit stealing, not poor and needy or sick like the many crowds who followed Jesus. To the outsider Matthew would have seemed to be in a good position. Yet Jesus knew deep down he was sick, and suffering and Jesus sought him out and called him to follow.

All around us are Matthews, those who seem OK but really struggle. The mother in an impossible marriage that doesn't want anyone to know, least of all her children, the CEO struggling to pay the bills and keep his staff , the couple who party just too much and too often to avoid their problems. I know so many people people who suffer inside but would never think of faith as an answer.

Like Jesus we too have to go to them, not expect them to come to church or homegroup, but to go where they are ,not with dogma, but with friendship, listening, helping and passing on the love that Jesus passes on to us.

"Jesus left that place, and as he walked along,he saw a tax collector ,named Matthew sitting in his office.He said to him,"Follow me." Matthew 9 vs 9