17th August 2026
Alex Buabeng-Korsah
TOPIC: LEAVING EVERYTHING BEHIND
THEME SCRIPTURE: "After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. 'Follow me,' Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him." — Luke 5:27–28 (NIV)
PREPARATORY QUESTION
What is Jesus asking you to leave behind so that you can follow Him more fully?
Levi, also known as Matthew, was sitting at his tax booth when Jesus called him. He was a man whose profession had brought him wealth but had also earned him rejection and distrust. Most people saw a sinner beyond redemption. Jesus saw a disciple in the making.
The invitation was remarkably simple: "Follow me."
There were no lengthy negotiations or conditions. Jesus did not ask Levi to first repair his reputation or prove his sincerity. He simply called him, and Levi responded immediately. He left behind the security of his occupation and stepped into a new life with Christ.
His first act as a follower of Jesus was to host a banquet and invite other tax collectors and sinners to meet the Savior who had changed his life. Levi understood that an encounter with Jesus was too good to keep to himself. The grace he had received became the grace he wanted others to experience.
Boved, restoration begins with a decisive response to the call of Christ. Every encounter with Jesus demands a response. While His invitation is freely given, following Him requires surrender. We cannot cling to old allegiances while embracing the new life He offers. Whatever competes for first place in our hearts must yield to His lordship.
Levi's transformation also reminds us that God delights in using unlikely people for His purposes. Our past does not limit His calling. His grace is greater than our failures, our labels, and the opinions of others. When Christ calls us, He also equips us to live the life He has prepared for us.
A touched heart is marked by joyful obedience. It leaves behind what once defined it and embraces a new identity in Christ. It also becomes a channel through which others are invited to encounter the Savior.
Key Takeaway
Revival begins with a wholehearted response to Christ's call, leading to a life of joyful obedience and transformed purpose.
Today, listen carefully for the voice of Jesus. He is still calling men and women to follow Him wholeheartedly. Respond without delay, trusting that whatever you leave behind is nothing compared to the life you will find in Him.
God bless you more.
FURTHER READING: Luke 5:27–32; Matthew 9:9–13; Philippians 3:7–9; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 3:1–4.
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD
1. What is Christ asking me to surrender in order to follow Him more faithfully?
2. Is my identity shaped more by my past or by God's calling on my life?
3. Who can I intentionally invite to experience the hope I have found in Jesus?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for calling me by Your grace. Help me to respond with wholehearted obedience, leaving behind anything that competes with my devotion to You. Give me the courage to follow wherever You lead and the joy of sharing Your love with others. Let my life reflect the transforming power of Your call, and use me to draw many people to Christ. May true revival deepen my surrender and expand my witness. In Jesus' precious name, Amen.