When Jesus Calls: Unexpected Invitations to Follow

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Invites the Unexpected to Follow Him

No one is disqualified from Jesus’ invitation to follow Him, regardless of their past or present circumstances. Jesus’ call to Levi, a tax collector despised by his community, demonstrates that God’s grace extends to those whom society deems unworthy. Jesus sees beyond our reputations, failures, and the labels others place on us, meeting us exactly where we are and offering us a place in His story. The invitation is not based on our qualifications but on His love and purpose for us. [10:50]

Mark 2:13-14 (ESV)
He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have believed you are “not the right kind of person” for God to use? Can you bring that to Jesus today and listen for His invitation to follow Him right where you are?

Day 2: Responding to Jesus’ Invitation Changes Everything

It is not enough to simply hear Jesus’ invitation; our response determines the course of our lives. Levi’s story could have ended at the tax booth, but instead, he got up and followed Jesus, leaving his old life behind. This act of obedience led to a radically different future—one marked by purpose, transformation, and participation in God’s mission. The difference between being invited and actually responding is the difference between a life unchanged and a life transformed by Christ. [16:38]

Mark 2:14 (ESV)
And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

Reflection: What is one concrete step you can take today to move from simply knowing about Jesus’ invitation to actively responding to it?

Day 3: Leaving Behind What Hinders Us

Following Jesus often requires us to leave behind whatever stands in the way of wholehearted discipleship. For Levi, this meant walking away from his lucrative and compromising profession; for us, it may be habits, priorities, relationships, or beliefs that keep us from fully embracing Jesus’ call. Jesus asks for all of our lives, inviting us to trust that what He offers is better than anything we leave behind. [20:53]

Philippians 3:7-8 (ESV)
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.

Reflection: Ask Jesus to show you your own “tax collecting booth”—what is one thing you sense He is inviting you to leave behind so you can follow Him more fully?

Day 4: Creating Opportunities for Others to Meet Jesus

Levi’s immediate response to following Jesus was to invite his friends and colleagues to meet Him, breaking down barriers between his old community and his new life. Rather than separating his faith from his relationships, Levi created space for others to encounter Jesus in everyday settings. We, too, are called to create opportunities for those around us to connect with Jesus, whether through simple conversations, acts of hospitality, or sharing our own stories of faith. [23:47]

Luke 5:29 (ESV)
And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them.

Reflection: Who in your life could you invite into a space—big or small—where they might encounter Jesus through you this week?

Day 5: Recognizing Our Ongoing Need for Jesus’ Healing and Grace

Jesus’ response to the Pharisees reminds us that everyone needs His healing, redemptive, and saving work—no one is beyond the need for grace. It is easy to believe that only “certain people” need Jesus, but the truth is that we all have areas in our lives where we need His touch. The first step is to acknowledge our need and welcome Him in, allowing His grace to transform every part of us. [27:37]

Mark 2:17 (ESV)
And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have been self-sufficient or resistant to God’s healing? How can you invite Jesus into that area today?

Sermon Summary

For the past 15 years, our culture has been shaped by images of what a hero looks like—strong, noble, and always on the side of good, like the Avengers. But recently, Marvel introduced the Thunderbolts, a team of misfits and former antagonists who, despite their flaws and checkered pasts, step up to save the day when no one else will. This shift in narrative mirrors a deeper spiritual truth: God often calls the least likely, the overlooked, and even the outcasts to participate in His redemptive work. Many of us carry assumptions about who God can use, who is worthy of His attention, or who can walk closely with Him. We may even disqualify ourselves, believing our past or present makes us unfit for God’s purposes. Yet, God is in the business of shattering those expectations.

In the opening chapters of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus repeatedly collides with the expectations of His contemporaries. He doesn’t fit the mold of the Messiah people were waiting for. Instead, He brings healing, freedom, and truth, and He calls people to follow Him—often those whom society least expects. The story of Jesus calling Levi, a tax collector, is a powerful example. Tax collectors were despised, seen as traitors and sinners, excluded from religious and community life. Yet, Jesus calls Levi right in the midst of his work, with all his baggage in plain view. Jesus’ invitation is not based on Levi’s worthiness, but on His own grace and purpose.

This invitation is extended to each of us. There is no past too checkered, no life too entangled, no profile too unworthy for Jesus’ call. The crucial question is not whether we are invited, but how we respond. Levi’s life was transformed not just because he was called, but because he got up, left his old life behind, and followed Jesus. He didn’t compartmentalize his faith; he brought his community to meet Jesus, creating opportunities for others to encounter grace.

We are challenged to identify what stands in the way of following Jesus fully—our own “tax collecting booths”—and to leave those behind. We are also called to create space for others to meet Jesus, not by filtering faith out of our lives, but by living authentically and inviting others in. Ultimately, everyone needs the healing, redemptive work of Jesus, and everyone is invited to receive it. The invitation is simple: follow Him, say yes, and let His love and grace reshape every area of your life.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Invitation Defies Expectations God consistently calls those whom society overlooks or deems unworthy. The story of Levi shows that God’s invitation is not limited by our past, our reputation, or our perceived qualifications. Jesus meets us exactly where we are, with full knowledge of our history and present condition, and still says, “Follow me.” [10:26]
2. Responding to the Invitation Changes Everything Being invited is not the end; transformation comes when we respond. Levi’s life was radically altered because he got up and followed Jesus, leaving behind what once defined him. Our lives, too, can be completely redirected when we move beyond passive acknowledgment to active obedience, stepping into the new life Jesus offers. [16:38]
3. Leaving Behind What Hinders Following Jesus often requires us to leave behind things that stand in the way—habits, priorities, or even identities that are incompatible with wholehearted discipleship. Like Levi, we are called to examine what our “tax collecting booth” is today and to courageously step away from it, trusting that what Jesus offers is far better. [21:03]
4. Integrating Faith and Community Levi didn’t separate his new life with Jesus from his old relationships; instead, he created opportunities for his community to encounter Jesus. We are encouraged to live authentically, not filtering out our faith in daily conversations, but naturally inviting others to see and experience the difference Jesus makes in our lives. [24:37]
5. Recognizing Our Ongoing Need for Grace Even those who strive to live rightly before God can miss out if they resist Jesus’ redefining work. The Pharisees’ example warns us against self-sufficiency and spiritual pride. We all need the healing, redemptive work of Jesus in every area of our lives, and the first step is to acknowledge that need and welcome Him in. [28:41]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:18] - The Avengers and Thunderbolts: Rethinking Heroes
[01:48] - Unexpected Impact: When Misfits Step Up
[02:13] - Our Assumptions About Who God Uses
[03:33] - Jesus Collides with Expectations
[05:23] - Invitation to Let Jesus Redefine Us
[07:15] - Jesus Calls the Unlikely: Levi’s Story
[09:45] - Jesus Sees and Calls Us as We Are
[11:25] - Implications for How We See Ourselves and Others
[13:23] - Wrestling with Our Own Expectations
[14:15] - The Power of Our Response to Jesus’ Invitation
[16:01] - Levi’s Transformation and Legacy
[18:05] - Leaving Behind What Hinders
[21:03] - Identifying Our “Tax Collecting Booth”
[22:45] - Creating Opportunities for Others to Meet Jesus
[26:02] - Jesus and the Pharisees: Who Needs Healing?
[28:41] - Welcoming Jesus’ Redemptive Work
[29:19] - The Simple Invitation: Follow Him

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Mark 2:13-17 (ESV) — 13 He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them.
14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
15 And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.
16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Observation Questions

What was Levi doing when Jesus called him, and how did Levi respond? (Mark 2:14; [07:15])
Who else was present at the dinner Levi hosted for Jesus, and why was this significant? (Mark 2:15-16; [22:45])
How did the Pharisees react to Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners, and what was Jesus’ response? (Mark 2:16-17; [26:50])
According to the sermon, what made Levi an “unlikely” choice to be called by Jesus? ([07:50])

Interpretation Questions

Why might Jesus have chosen to call someone like Levi, who was considered an outcast and a traitor by his community? What does this reveal about God’s character? ([10:26])
The sermon mentions that Jesus’ invitation is not based on our worthiness but on his grace and purpose. How does this challenge common assumptions about who God can use? ([11:02])
What does Levi’s immediate response to Jesus’ call suggest about the nature of true discipleship? ([16:01])
How does Jesus’ response to the Pharisees (“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners”) redefine what it means to be part of God’s kingdom? ([27:25])

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to consider what our own “tax collecting booth” might be—the thing that stands in the way of following Jesus fully. What is one area, habit, or identity in your life that you sense might be holding you back? What would it look like to leave it behind? ([21:03])
Have you ever felt unqualified or unworthy to be used by God because of your past or present circumstances? How does Levi’s story speak to those feelings? ([11:02])
Levi didn’t compartmentalize his faith; he invited his community to meet Jesus. In what ways do you tend to “filter out” your faith in daily life? What is one practical way you could be more open about your relationship with Jesus this week? ([24:37])
Jesus’ invitation requires a response. Is there an area where you have been passively acknowledging Jesus’ call but not actively responding? What step could you take this week to move from passive to active obedience? ([16:38])
The Pharisees missed out on Jesus’ work because of their spiritual pride and self-sufficiency. Are there areas in your life where you are resistant to Jesus’ redefining work? How can you invite Him into those areas? ([28:41])
Think of someone in your life who might feel like an outsider or “unlikely” to be called by God. How can you create space for them to encounter Jesus, just as Levi did for his friends? ([23:47])
The sermon says, “Everyone needs the healing, redemptive work of Jesus, and everyone is invited to receive it.” What is one area of your life where you need to welcome Jesus’ healing and grace right now? ([28:41])

Sermon Clips

``He is widening the understanding of who gets to be a disciple, who gets to be a follower, who can be entrusted with the message and the work of the kingdom of God. And so, I want us to consider each week how we, as we go through this season, are going to... And here's where it's ultimately heading, and this passage is part of that, making that case, is that everyone, everyone is invited to follow Jesus and be entrusted with his mission. No one is automatically disqualified from receiving an invitation. No one is inherently excluded from the list of people God could use for good in this world. And that includes you. And it includes me as well. [00:06:14] (44 seconds) #EveryoneInvitedToTheKingdom

Folks, there's no past that's too checkered. There's no life that's too busy in other things. There's no profile that you could conjure up for yourself or for someone else that would make Jesus say that's not the kind of person I could invite to follow me. There's nothing. Nothing you could say about yourself or about someone else that would make Jesus say oh, I can't invite that person. I can't invite you to follow me. And that has implications. It has implications for how we think about ourselves. It has implications for how we think about others. And how we view ourselves and view others. [00:10:52] (40 seconds) #NoOneExcludedFromInvitation

There are invitations from God that we've ignored. That you've ignored. That I've ignored. Because we thought, that must not be for me. There's no way God would be inviting me to that. I'm not the right kind of person. Hear me. Jesus meets us where we are. Even in the midst of us thinking we're not the right kind of people. And Jesus says, follow me. Jesus invites. Jesus is meeting you where you are right now. And he is inviting you to follow him. The question is, what will you do on the other side of that? [00:11:35] (37 seconds) #JesusMeetsYouWhereYouAre

Levi's call collided with the expectations of the crowd of who would be called by someone like Jesus. It collided with the expectations of the Pharisees and of the disciples. But it likely also collided with Levi's own expectations. And Jesus is saying yes, you are the kind of person I would call to follow me. You are the kind of person I would call to follow me. Can you hear that for yourself today? Can you hear Jesus say you are the kind of person I would call to follow me? Because that's the truth friends. That is the truth. You are the kind of person who God would call to follow him. [00:13:23] (48 seconds) #YouAreCalledToFollow

Now the invitation is just that. It's an invitation. How we respond to the invitation makes all the difference. What we do with Jesus' invitation makes all the difference in the life we end up living. Invitations aren't the end in and of themselves. It's great to be asked to come to a celebration or a banquet or a wedding or receive an invite to an invite only professional conference. It can be an honor in some cases but it is an entirely different experience if you decide to go. It's an entirely different experience if you show up. [00:14:24] (38 seconds) #RespondToTheInvitation

Tax collecting was in the way for Levi it was in the way of him following Jesus with his whole life and he had to make a choice and that choice was costly it wasn't just costly financially but it would have put him in the bad graces of the Roman Empire Romans don't take kindly to people walking away from things that they have been asked to do but there is something so compelling about Jesus invitation that Levi doesn't hesitate he gets up and he leaves it behind Jesus has made it clear that he can't let anything get in the way of following him so Levi responds by leaving it all behind and that's a model for us as well leave behind anything anything that could come between you and following Jesus with all of your life because Jesus calls for nothing less he calls for all of your life and all of my life. [00:19:13] (61 seconds) #LeaveEverythingToFollow

What Jesus seems to be saying and how he lives and how he engages is everyone needs the healing, freeing, redemptive, forgiving, saving work that I've come for if you can recognize that you need it too then you can receive it and you can be part of bringing it to the world and that's a very different paradigm and they just can't seem to make the turn and they miss out on this and on so much more and they do so much harm in the process and we are all prone to that in some way or another at some point in our lives we have ways in which we say to God I'm good here take care of those people or deal with that with those people I can take care of this one or no need to concern yourself with me in this area I'm set and it creates barriers to the life in Christ that we were made to live. [00:27:22] (60 seconds) #EmbraceJesusHealingWork

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