Rise and Follow Jesus, Why? 🧐 | Matthew 9 Devotional (7-Step QT)
7-Step QT Notes
1. 🙏 Quiet Time
Pause. Take a deep breath. Ask God to show you what it really means to rise and follow Jesus in your everyday life.
2. 📅 February 1, 2026
Today’s passage reminds us:
Following Jesus often means rising from what feels familiar or comfortable—and that step of obedience brings deeper joy than comfort ever could.
3. ✝️ Matthew 9:1-13
Jesus forgives a paralytic’s sins and heals him, revealing His authority to forgive sins on earth. He then calls Matthew, who immediately rises and follows Him. Jesus explains that He associates with sinners because He came to call them, teaching that God desires mercy rather than sacrifice.
4. 📖 Key Verse
As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him (v. 9)
5. 📝 Reflection
Let’s be honest for a moment. If I were a paralyzed man lying on a sickbed and Jesus looked at me and said, “Get up, take your mat, and go home,” healing me instantly, wouldn’t I joyfully hurry back home?
But what if I were a tax collector sitting at my booth, and Jesus looked at me and said, “Get up and follow me”? Would I rise with the same joy and follow Him?
From the perspective of the Kingdom of Heaven, rising from sickness and returning home is certainly joyful, but rising from a place of wealth and comfort to follow Jesus is a far greater joy and honor. Yet we often choose to return to what is familiar rather than follow Him. Why? Because we know that following Jesus can be costly and difficult.
Dear brothers and sisters, will you follow Jesus, or will you choose to go back home? One thing I am certain about is this: even if we choose to return home rather than follow Him, Jesus will not be disappointed or condemn us. But wouldn’t He rejoice even more when we rise and follow His call? Perhaps this is why our heavenly reward is greater (Matthew 5:11–12).
Today, I bless you to take a step in the direction of Jesus.
6. 💬 What does this passage speak to you today?
- What “comfortable place” might Jesus be inviting you to rise from—security, habits, image, fear, success?
- Where do you sense Jesus saying, “Follow Me” in your weekly life—relationships, spiritual practices, decisions, career direction?
- What feels harder: asking Jesus to help you, or letting Him lead you? Why?
7. 🙏 Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for calling people like Matthew—and people like me. Give me courage to rise from what feels familiar and follow You with honesty and trust. Help me love mercy, walk humbly, and take one real step toward You today. Amen.
Scriptures
📖 1 And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 7 And he rose and went home. 8 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. 10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:1-13, ESV).
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