Matthew Study 9:10

"... many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with him..."

When we respond to Jesus' "Follow Me" and rise from our tax collector's booth to be forever covered with the dust of our Rabbi it is a two way street. Not only do we experience his eternal companionship, but he experiences - and willingly dines with - all aspects of our house.

Matthew - a scum of the earth tax collector - is called by Jesus to follow him. Jesus knows his occupation and doesn't care. He sees far beyond the social stigma of "tax collector" into the untapped Plan waiting to be birthed in the heart of his Image. The sinful friends in Matthew's living room do little to deter the Call of God in his life.

Matthew rises and, in response to the Call, invites Jesus fully into his home. Sure, it's not the most kosher home - filled with ill-gotten gain and - even worse - his other tax collector friends and sinners. But it's all he has. He has given his life to the Lord and, for better or worse, these things are a part of his life.  But, the surprising thing is, Jesus is wants to be a part of Matthew's entire life - sacred and secular - for the sake of his profound love for him. He loves Matthew and that love remains unmoved for him, regardless of the others dining around the table.

Jesus loves us. He loves all of us. And, for the sake of that love, he has willingly resigned himself to all of us (hook, line, and sinker). He chooses to affiliate with the parts of us that, let's just say, have yet to be redeemed; our fellow tax collectors and sinners.

We have a tendency to hide our "friends" from Jesus. Perhaps it's shame that makes us do that. But we need not keep from him things that fall short of his glory. We need not falsify our joy, perform admirably, or live in denial of who we really are. True Life for the disciple happens as we open the doors to our homes and invite Jesus to come to dine with all of who we currently are. He has forever committed himself to us and - good and bad - seeks to dine with with us in our entirety.

Open fully. It is the only way your homes can ever be fully cleansed.