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Interestingly, as Matthew writes his account of his own selection as a disciple, he chooses to use his new name, Matthew, instead of his old name, Levi. As Levi, he was a tax collector, and most likely a very hated citizen by Jewish standards. Tax collectors set up booths in order to tax merchandise transported from place to place. They would often raise the taxable amount to whatever they pleased and pocket the rest, thus becoming not only a traitor (working for Rome) but also a thief.
Again, I find it inspiring that Matthew uses his new name in this account. It’s a big deal. Mark and Luke both use the name Levi in their accounts of this same story. The use of his new name signifies that Matthew had found his true identity under Christ. There was no longer a Levi. He was gone – buried with the sin and shame of his past life. Though he was still a sinner saved by grace, Matthew was a different man. He had purpose and victory. He was chosen. He was brand new!
It begs the question – how do we see ourselves? When we look in the mirror, do we see shame, regret, and past sins? …or do we see Christ? The Bible explicitly tells us that we who have repented and followed Jesus as the Lord and Savior of our lives are no longer the old person of the flesh. You are a new being, filled with God’s Spirit. You are forgiven, your sins tossed as far as the east is from the west. Jesus has come to make all things new. All things.
It’s a fine line to walk. We can’t become prideful and puffed up like the Pharisees, but we also cannot live in the past. Jesus didn’t save us so we could remain the same person. He died so we could bear the image of God in our souls and function as part of the body of Christ. We are heirs as sons and daughters of the Most High! We, as Matthew did, should view ourselves in the same way God views us – sinners saved by grace. We are no longer slaves. We are free!
So, this begs the question, are you a different person? Do you view yourself as a new creation in Jesus, and more importantly, do you live as a new creation in Jesus?