The journey from sinner to believer is one of the most profound transformations a person can experience. Through the lens of Matthew 19:26, we discover that what seems impossible in our human understanding becomes entirely possible through God’s power.
Matthew’s transformation serves as a powerful example of God’s ability to change lives. Originally named Levi, he worked as a tax collector – a profession despised by many in his time. Tax collectors were often viewed as traitors and sinners, yet Jesus saw something different in Matthew.
When Jesus called Matthew to follow Him, something remarkable happened. Matthew immediately left his lucrative career to join Jesus and even hosted a feast with other sinners. This wasn’t just a career change; it was a complete life transformation from sinner to believer.
The verse “with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” speaks directly to our human limitations versus God’s unlimited power. When we face situations that seem hopeless or changes that feel impossible to make, this scripture reminds us that God’s power transcends our understanding.
This doesn’t mean we can expect God to fulfill every wish, but rather that His power can accomplish what we cannot do in our own strength – including the transformation of our hearts and lives.
The journey from sinner to believer follows a clear pattern that we can observe in Matthew’s life and our own spiritual experiences.
The first step involves honestly acknowledging our shortcomings and sins. This isn’t about self-condemnation but about honest self-reflection. We must recognize that we fall short of God’s standards and need His help.
True repentance involves more than just intellectual acknowledgment. It requires genuine sorrow for our actions and their impact on our relationship with God and others.
Repentance means turning away from sin and turning toward God. It’s asking for His forgiveness while committing to change our ways with His help.
Some might wonder why this spiritual transformation matters in practical terms. The answer lies in understanding our relationship with God and the gift of life He has given us.
God is described as the Almighty Father who has blessed us with the gift of life. How we treat this gift – how we live our lives – matters not just for our earthly experience but for our eternal destiny.
Following God’s path isn’t just about avoiding negative consequences; it’s about discovering the purpose and direction He has for our lives. When we choose to follow Him, we align ourselves with His will and experience the transformation He desires for us.
Without this guidance, we risk going in the wrong direction, missing out on the abundant life God wants to give us.
It’s important to remember that none of us are fully perfect. Even as believers, we continue to struggle with sin and need God’s grace daily. The difference is that we’re growing in our relationship with Him and becoming more like Him over time.
This ongoing process requires us to continually lean on God, remembering that our battles are ultimately His to fight.
This week, challenge yourself to honestly examine areas of your life where you need God’s transformative power. Just as Matthew left his old life behind when Jesus called him, consider what you might need to leave behind to follow God more fully.
Ask yourself these questions:
Remember, the journey from sinner to believer isn’t a one-time event but an ongoing transformation. With God’s power, the impossible becomes possible, and lives can be completely changed for His glory.
Have you ever felt paralyzed by fear when it comes to your relationship with God? Maybe you’re afraid of what others might think if you truly worship Him, or perhaps you’re scared to take that first step toward faith. Fear has a way of keeping us stuck in places we were never meant to stay. Matthew understood this fear. As a tax collector, he was already an outcast, despised by his community. Yet when Jesus called him, something powerful happened – he chose to be unafraid. He didn’t let fear of judgment, fear of change, or fear of the unknown keep him from responding to God’s call. Being unafraid doesn’t mean we don’t feel scared; it means we don’t let that fear control our decisions. When we recognize that God is calling us into something greater, we can choose courage over comfort. Matthew’s transformation began the moment he decided to be unafraid of following Jesus, regardless of what others thought. Your journey with God might feel intimidating, but remember that courage isn’t the absence of fear – it’s moving forward despite it. God isn’t asking you to be perfect; He’s asking you to be willing. When we stop being afraid of God and start being amazed by His love, transformation becomes possible. Today, consider what fears might be holding you back from a deeper relationship with God. Is it fear of judgment? Fear of change? Fear of commitment? Whatever it is, know that God’s love is greater than your fear, and His plans for you are worth the risk of stepping out in faith.
Reflection Question
The first step in any journey is knowing where you are. For Matthew, this meant acknowledging that his life as a tax collector – though profitable – was leading him nowhere meaningful. He had to face the reality that he was living as a sinner, separated from God and His purposes. Recognizing our sin isn’t about beating ourselves up or wallowing in shame. It’s about honest self-reflection that leads to hope. When we see ourselves clearly, we also see our need for something greater than what we can provide for ourselves. This recognition becomes the foundation for transformation. Matthew didn’t minimize his past or make excuses. He owned his reality as a sinner, which allowed him to fully appreciate the grace Jesus offered. Sometimes we try to clean ourselves up before coming to God, but that’s not how it works. We come as we are, acknowledging our need, and let God do the transforming. This recognition phase requires humility and courage. It takes humility to admit we’ve been wrong and courage to believe that change is possible. But here’s the beautiful truth: God already knows everything about us, and He loves us anyway. Our honesty doesn’t surprise Him; it positions us to receive His grace. When we stop pretending we have it all together and start acknowledging our need for God, we open the door for His power to work in our lives. Matthew’s transformation began with this honest recognition, and yours can too.
There’s a difference between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow. Worldly sorrow leaves us stuck in guilt and shame, but godly sorrow leads us toward repentance and life. Matthew experienced this godly sorrow – not just regret about getting caught or facing consequences, but genuine grief over how his choices had affected his relationship with God and others. This kind of sorrow isn’t meant to destroy us; it’s meant to redirect us. When we truly understand how our sin has separated us from God’s best for our lives, it creates a holy dissatisfaction with where we are. This dissatisfaction becomes the fuel for change. Matthew felt sorry not just for what he had done, but for who he had become. His sorrow wasn’t self-pity; it was recognition that he had been living beneath his calling. This realization prepared his heart to receive Jesus’ invitation to something greater. Godly sorrow also includes grief over how our choices have affected others. Matthew’s work as a tax collector had likely hurt many people, and acknowledging this pain was part of his transformation process. When we truly see the impact of our sin, it motivates us to pursue a different path. This sorrow is actually a gift from God – it’s His way of showing us that we were made for more than sin and selfishness. It’s the bridge between recognition and repentance, between seeing our need and taking action to address it.
Repentance is more than just saying sorry – it’s a complete change of direction. When Matthew left his tax booth to follow Jesus, he wasn’t just changing jobs; he was turning his entire life toward God. This is what true repentance looks like: a decisive turn away from sin and toward God’s grace. The word repentance literally means “to change one’s mind.” Matthew changed his mind about what mattered most in life. Money and status gave way to purpose and relationship with God. This wasn’t just an emotional decision; it was a practical one that affected every aspect of his life. Repentance involves asking God for forgiveness, but it goes deeper than that. It’s about surrendering our will to His will, our plans to His plans, our way to His way. Matthew demonstrated this by immediately hosting a feast with other sinners, showing that his repentance included a desire to share what he had found with others. True repentance also recognizes that we can’t change ourselves through willpower alone. We need God’s power to transform us from the inside out. Matthew understood that following Jesus meant depending on Jesus, not just admiring Him from a distance. This turn toward grace is both a moment and a process. Matthew made a decisive choice to follow Jesus, but he also had to keep choosing that path daily. Repentance is the beginning of transformation, not the end of it.
Matthew’s story doesn’t end with his decision to follow Jesus – it begins there. From tax collector to disciple to Gospel writer, Matthew’s transformation continued throughout his life. He discovered that following God’s path isn’t just about avoiding hell; it’s about experiencing the abundant life God designed us for. Following God’s path means trusting His direction even when we can’t see the full picture. Matthew had no idea that his decision to follow Jesus would eventually lead to him writing one of the four Gospels. He simply took the next step in obedience, and God used that faithfulness in ways Matthew never could have imagined. This path isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it. Matthew faced challenges, persecution, and difficulties as a follower of Jesus, but he also experienced purpose, community, and the joy of being used by God. The path of following Jesus leads to life – real, meaningful, eternal life. Remember that even as believers, we’re still growing. Matthew didn’t become perfect the moment he followed Jesus, and neither will we. But we have God’s grace to help us continue on the path, His forgiveness when we stumble, and His power to keep transforming us. The gift of life God has given us is meant to be lived for His glory and our good. When we follow His path, we discover who we were truly meant to be and experience the joy of living in alignment with our Creator’s design.
