Embracing Grace: The Call of Levi

 

Summary

As we gather on this last Sunday before Christmas, we reflect on the profound words of Jesus in Luke 5:32: "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." This statement encapsulates the essence of why Jesus came into the world. We explore this through the story of Levi, a tax collector who became one of Jesus' disciples. Levi's story is a testament to the grace, change, and joy that Jesus brings into our lives.

Levi, also known as Matthew, was a man of considerable ability, fluent in multiple languages and skilled in record-keeping. However, he was also embroiled in a corrupt system, working as a tax collector for the Roman regime, which made him despised by his fellow Jews. Despite his moral failings, Jesus saw Levi at his tax booth and called him to follow Him. This call was not based on Levi's righteousness but on Jesus' grace. Jesus chooses the least likely and least deserving, demonstrating that His grace is available to all, regardless of their past.

The call to follow Jesus is an invitation to a new life. For Levi, it meant leaving behind his old ways and embracing a new identity as a disciple of Christ. This transformation is not about adding Jesus to our existing lives but about allowing Him to redefine who we are. As we follow Jesus, we find a new community and a new mission. Levi, once part of a community of tax collectors, became part of a community of disciples, united by their shared commitment to Jesus.

Repentance, as Jesus calls us to, is not a journey of self-loathing but a path to joy. It is a process that happens as we follow Jesus, allowing His presence to transform us. This repentance deepens over time, as we come to know more of our sin, ourselves, and our God. It is a lifelong journey that leads to greater joy and likeness to Christ.

As we prepare for Christmas, let us remember that Jesus came to call sinners to repentance. Whether we feel too good to need repentance or too bad to hope for it, Jesus' call is for all of us. By following Him, we open ourselves to the grace, change, and joy that only He can bring.

Key Takeaways:

- Grace for the Least Likely: Jesus' call to Levi, a despised tax collector, highlights the boundless grace He offers. Jesus chooses those who seem least deserving, showing that His grace is available to all, regardless of their past. This grace is a reminder that no one is beyond the reach of God's love. [10:24]

- Transformation Through Following: Following Jesus means embracing a new identity, community, and mission. Levi's decision to leave everything and follow Jesus illustrates the transformative power of Christ's call. This transformation is not about adding Jesus to our lives but allowing Him to redefine who we are. [15:03]

- Repentance as a Joyful Journey: Repentance is not about self-loathing but a joyful journey of transformation. As we follow Jesus, repentance deepens, leading to greater joy and likeness to Christ. This ongoing process is a testament to the joy that comes from living in alignment with God's will. [24:59]

- A New Community in Christ: Levi's story shows how following Jesus brings us into a new community. Despite differences, the disciples were united by their shared commitment to Christ. This new community offers support and encouragement as we pursue our mission in Christ. [18:18]

- Hope for All in Christ: Jesus' call to sinners offers hope to everyone. Whether we feel too good to need repentance or too bad to hope for it, Jesus' invitation is for all. By following Him, we open ourselves to the grace, change, and joy that only He can bring. [33:15]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:16] - Introduction to the Message
- [00:34] - Jesus' Purpose for Coming
- [00:52] - The Story of Levi
- [01:10] - Levi's Background
- [02:31] - The Corruption of Tax Collectors
- [03:48] - Levi's Moral Failings
- [06:30] - Jesus' Call to Levi
- [07:01] - The Grace Jesus Shows
- [10:41] - The Change Jesus Brings
- [14:16] - Levi's Response to Jesus
- [18:39] - A New Mission in Christ
- [19:57] - Levi's New Name and Purpose
- [22:56] - The Joy Jesus Gives
- [28:20] - Responding to Jesus' Call
- [34:44] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 5:32: "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."

Observation Questions:
1. What was Levi's occupation, and why was it significant in the context of Jesus calling him? [01:10]
2. How did Jesus' call to Levi differ from typical recruitment methods we see today? [11:23]
3. What was Levi's immediate response to Jesus' invitation to follow Him? [14:16]
4. How did Levi's new identity as a disciple of Jesus change his community and mission? [18:39]

Interpretation Questions:
1. Why does Jesus choose individuals like Levi, who are seen as least deserving, to follow Him? What does this reveal about the nature of grace? [10:24]
2. How does the concept of repentance as a joyful journey challenge common perceptions of repentance? [24:59]
3. In what ways does following Jesus lead to a transformation of identity and community for believers? [16:27]
4. How does the story of Levi illustrate the hope that Jesus offers to all, regardless of their past? [33:15]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt undeserving of grace. How can Levi's story encourage you to embrace Jesus' call in your life? [10:24]
2. What old ways or habits might Jesus be calling you to leave behind as you embrace a new identity in Him? [15:17]
3. How can you actively participate in the new community of believers that Jesus invites you into? What steps can you take to foster unity and support within this community? [18:18]
4. Consider the areas in your life where you might need to repent. How can you view this process as a joyful journey rather than a burden? [24:59]
5. Identify a person in your life who might feel too "bad" to hope for repentance. How can you share the message of hope and grace with them this week? [33:15]
6. How can you align your personal mission with the mission of Jesus to call sinners to repentance? What practical actions can you take to live out this mission daily? [18:39]
7. As Christmas approaches, how can you prepare your heart to fully embrace the grace, change, and joy that Jesus brings? [28:20]

Devotional

Day 1: Grace for the Least Likely
Jesus' call to Levi, a despised tax collector, highlights the boundless grace He offers. Jesus chooses those who seem least deserving, showing that His grace is available to all, regardless of their past. This grace is a reminder that no one is beyond the reach of God's love. Levi, also known as Matthew, was a man of considerable ability, fluent in multiple languages and skilled in record-keeping. However, he was also embroiled in a corrupt system, working as a tax collector for the Roman regime, which made him despised by his fellow Jews. Despite his moral failings, Jesus saw Levi at his tax booth and called him to follow Him. This call was not based on Levi's righteousness but on Jesus' grace. Jesus chooses the least likely and least deserving, demonstrating that His grace is available to all, regardless of their past. [10:24]

"For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong." (1 Corinthians 1:26-27, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life seems least deserving of grace? How can you extend God's love to them today?


Day 2: Transformation Through Following
Following Jesus means embracing a new identity, community, and mission. Levi's decision to leave everything and follow Jesus illustrates the transformative power of Christ's call. This transformation is not about adding Jesus to our lives but allowing Him to redefine who we are. For Levi, it meant leaving behind his old ways and embracing a new identity as a disciple of Christ. This transformation is not about adding Jesus to our existing lives but about allowing Him to redefine who we are. As we follow Jesus, we find a new community and a new mission. Levi, once part of a community of tax collectors, became part of a community of disciples, united by their shared commitment to Jesus. [15:03]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: What part of your old identity do you need to leave behind to fully embrace your new life in Christ?


Day 3: Repentance as a Joyful Journey
Repentance is not about self-loathing but a joyful journey of transformation. As we follow Jesus, repentance deepens, leading to greater joy and likeness to Christ. This ongoing process is a testament to the joy that comes from living in alignment with God's will. Repentance, as Jesus calls us to, is not a journey of self-loathing but a path to joy. It is a process that happens as we follow Jesus, allowing His presence to transform us. This repentance deepens over time, as we come to know more of our sin, ourselves, and our God. It is a lifelong journey that leads to greater joy and likeness to Christ. [24:59]

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit." (Psalm 51:12, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to experience the joy of repentance today?


Day 4: A New Community in Christ
Levi's story shows how following Jesus brings us into a new community. Despite differences, the disciples were united by their shared commitment to Christ. This new community offers support and encouragement as we pursue our mission in Christ. As we follow Jesus, we find a new community and a new mission. Levi, once part of a community of tax collectors, became part of a community of disciples, united by their shared commitment to Jesus. This transformation is not about adding Jesus to our existing lives but about allowing Him to redefine who we are. [18:18]

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively contribute to building and supporting your community in Christ this week?


Day 5: Hope for All in Christ
Jesus' call to sinners offers hope to everyone. Whether we feel too good to need repentance or too bad to hope for it, Jesus' invitation is for all. By following Him, we open ourselves to the grace, change, and joy that only He can bring. As we prepare for Christmas, let us remember that Jesus came to call sinners to repentance. Whether we feel too good to need repentance or too bad to hope for it, Jesus' call is for all of us. By following Him, we open ourselves to the grace, change, and joy that only He can bring. [33:15]

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age." (Titus 2:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you share the hope of Christ with someone who feels beyond redemption today?

Quotes


The call of Levi is the most marvelous sample of grace. Jesus calls the least likely and the least deserving. To Levi, who was practicing extortion at his shabby little tax booth, Jesus says, "Follow me." To the thief on the cross, a violent criminal, Jesus says, "Today you will be with me in paradise." [00:08:32]

God chooses what is foolish in the world to shame the wise. He chooses what is weak in the world to shame the strong. He chooses what is low and despised in the world, that is, the things that are not, to bring to nothing the things that are. [00:09:46]

To follow Jesus means that you share his life. Following Jesus means going where Jesus goes, doing what Jesus does, believing what Jesus says, suffering what Jesus suffers, and finding joy in who Jesus is. Now, it's easy to see how all of this worked out for the disciples during the ministry of Jesus. [00:12:39]

When you follow Jesus, here's what's going to happen: like Levi, you're going to find a new identity. I mean, this man had been known in the community as a tax collector. Now he was going to be known as a follower of Jesus. Of course, people would remember what he had been, but what he had been would no longer define him. [00:15:46]

Levi was part of a community, but when he came to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, he became part of a whole new community. He became a disciple. Now Peter and Andrew and James and John were fishermen. They paid taxes, and they would have despised tax collectors as much as anyone else at that time. [00:16:39]

When you follow Jesus, his mission becomes your mission. Now right here, Jesus says that he has come to call sinners to repentance. So when Levi followed Jesus, the mission of Jesus became his mission also: to call sinners to repentance. "Look at what Jesus has done in my life, and the same Jesus can do something very wonderful in yours." [00:18:39]

Repentance is not a miserable journey of self-loathing and of regret. No, repentance brings joy in heaven, and if there is joy over repentance in heaven, there will be joy in repentance for you. Two observations to make about this very wonderful gift of repentance: the first is that repentance happens when you follow Jesus. [00:24:36]

Some people have the idea that you have to clean up your life, get your act together, overcome your baggage, conquer all your sins before you can follow Jesus. I'd like to follow Jesus, but there's a lot of stuff that I need to get sorted out in my life first. I've heard that so many times. [00:25:06]

Repentance happens as you follow Jesus, and repentance deepens over time. That's not a one-off thing that just happens at the beginning of the Christian life; it's actually a lifelong journey. Some years ago, I came across a definition of repentance in the writings of Dr. J.I. Packer that I have found profoundly and wonderfully helpful. [00:26:46]

As you follow Jesus, you'll come to see more of your sin than you did before, and you'll come to discover as you follow Jesus more about yourself. And as you follow Jesus, you will come to know more of God, and as you see more of your sin and more of yourself and more of your God, so your repentance will deepen. [00:27:34]

There are three ways in which we may respond to Jesus today. One is to say, "I'm too good to need repentance." There were people who responded to Jesus like that in the gospels, and there are people who respond to Jesus like that today. You see this response in the Pharisees. [00:28:45]

Jesus came into the world to bring grace for you. Jesus came into the world so that a new life would be possible for you. He came so that the joy that he alone can give would be yours. So don't say, "I'm too good to need repenting," and don't say, "I'm too bad to ever be able to repent." [00:33:34]

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Transcript
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