Everybody's Wanted: One Invitation Can Change A Life

Have you ever had a moment where someone made you feel seen in a way you didn’t expect?

I remember my first day at a gym during a season when I was battling burnout, discouragement, and anxiety. I hadn’t worked out in years, and the last time I tried a class, I lost an exercise ball that rolled down the aisle in front of everyone. So walking into this gym, even with friends, I felt nervous and completely out of place.

The trainer ran around high-fiving people as the workout began, but I don’t remember when I told her my name. There were hundreds of people there, and the workout itself was hard enough that I went home questioning if I would ever come back. Still, I showed up again the next day. As the trainer moved through the room again, she got to me, looked me in the eye, said, “What’s up, Amy?” and kept moving.

That moment stuck with me. Out of all those people, she remembered my name. It made me feel seen, valued, and like I belonged. And because of that, I wanted to come back.

What if one moment of helping someone feel seen could change the direction of their life?

Some of you have experienced that kind of moment, while others have experienced the opposite—feeling invisible, like no one noticed you or cared that you were there. That’s exactly the kind of moment we see unfold in Matthew 9:9–13.

Matthew was a tax collector, which meant he was wealthy but deeply rejected. As a Jewish man working for Rome, he was seen as a traitor by his own people. He wasn’t just disliked; he was labeled, excluded, and written off. At some point, he likely began to believe that this was simply who he was and that there was no way to change.

Then Jesus shows up.

Jesus walks up to Matthew and simply says, “Follow me.” That invitation alone changes everything. Jesus doesn’t invite Matthew because of his life choices; He invites him in spite of them. And if we’re honest, many of us carry labels in the same way Matthew did. We begin to believe what has been said about us or what we’ve done, and we wear those labels as identity.

But Jesus invites us to lay those labels down and follow Him into something new.

Then Jesus does something even more unexpected—He sits down and eats with Matthew and his friends. In that culture, sharing a meal wasn’t casual; it was a sign of acceptance, relationship, and belonging. Jesus wasn’t just calling Matthew privately; He was stepping fully into his world and publicly showing that Matthew was wanted.

It reminds me of a scene from The Sandlot, where Benny invites Smalls to play baseball even though he clearly doesn’t fit in. He doesn’t have the right gear, doesn’t know how to play, and everyone else questions why he’s even there. But Benny continues to include him, making it clear that he belongs. That one act changes everything for Smalls.

That’s what Jesus does, and it’s what we’re called to do.

There are “Matthews” in your life—people who feel overlooked, labeled, or stuck. And what if one invitation from you could begin to change their story?

Romans 5:8 reminds us that God didn’t wait for us to get our lives together. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. God moved first, and that’s the heart of the gospel. Our mission isn’t to earn God’s approval but to participate in His pursuit of people.

Jesus makes that mission clear in Matthew 28:19–20 when He tells us to go and make disciples. That begins with simple, intentional steps—inviting people, sitting with them, listening to their story, and showing genuine care. We cannot make disciples if we aren’t willing to invite people into relationship.

So who are your three? Write their names down. Pray for them. Invite them. Sit with them. Listen to their story. Be intentional in helping them feel seen.

Because everybody’s wanted.

If you feel like Matthew today—out of place, unsure, or defined by your past—I want you to know that you are seen and known by God, and there is a place for you here. He is inviting you into something new.

And if you’ve been following Jesus but have found yourself staying on the sidelines, this is your moment to step back into the mission. Ask God to renew your love for people and give you the courage to move toward them.

Jesus leads the way by showing us that everybody’s wanted.

Let’s live like it.