Inviting Levi to Discipleship

This sermon reflects on the biblical account of Jesus inviting Levi, a despised tax collector, to "follow me" while Levi was still working in his tax office, emphasizing the importance of accepting God's call just as you are. The speaker contrasts this direct invitation with the human tendency to believe one must first repent, cleanse oneself, or become worthy before returning to God, arguing that such attempts to self-justify negate the need for Christ’s sacrifice. Using the parable of the Prodigal Son and a passage from Galatians, the sermon powerfully asserts that if humans could achieve righteousness through their own works or efforts, Christ died in vain, underscoring that our transformation is God's work, not our prerequisite to follow Him. The core message encourages listeners to immediately follow Christ, who will then initiate the necessary change, much like Levi the sinner became Matthew the evangelist.