The Forming of a Follower: How to Follow Jesus from Any Context with Joy and Commitment
Following Jesus from Any Context
Worship and discipleship go hand in hand. Followers worship, and worshipers follow. If you are a follower of Jesus, He calls you to follow Him unconditionally from any context—and to follow Him joyfully.
We often hear that we should follow Jesus to any context, but it’s equally important to understand that we should follow Him from any context.
When we first meet Levi in Luke 5:27–32 (read the passage here), he is sitting in a tax booth. To any Jew, that was troubling. Jewish tax collectors were considered traitors. They worked for the Romans, extorting money to fill Roman coffers by charging Rome’s required amount plus extra fees. Rome did not care how much they added.
Because of this, Jewish tax collectors were hated by their own people and prohibited from temple worship. Being barred from the temple was effectively excommunication from God—making tax collectors both political and spiritual enemies of Israel.
To make matters worse, this tax collector was named Levi—a name linked to the tribe of priests, who were called to be holy and live apart. That Levi traded all of this to serve Roman oppressors was outrageous to his community.
Yet, Jesus calls followers out of any context.
Levi also had it made. Though on the outs with his people, he held a lucrative job with income many envied and had influence with the Romans. He had many reasons not to follow Jesus.
We all have reasons not to follow Jesus. Like Levi, they boil down to sin. Do we love our sin and our current context more than following Christ? Or do we have the courage to leave behind what holds us back?
The call to follow Jesus is radical. It demands that we take a step, not when everything is perfect, but from wherever we are—even if it feels impossible or unlikely.
Following Jesus with Joy and Full Commitment
When Jesus calls, we have a responsibility to follow with full commitment. Levi found joy in following Jesus—and celebrated by throwing a party! Luke 5:29 says, “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.”
Levi’s party wasn’t a small get-together; it was a full celebration. It’s surprising how many Christians view following Jesus as a duty rather than a joyful experience.
Levi gathered his friends not only to celebrate but also to introduce them to Jesus. I remember when my oldest child professed faith in Christ. She wanted to call everyone she knew. Her excitement about meeting her Savior overflowed into her relationships. The called grandparents, she called aunts, she called uncles.
This is how evangelism should happen—not as a cold, programmatic effort focused on numbers like a salesman—but naturally, when transformed by grace.
Following Jesus is not meant to be a burden or checklist; it is a joyful, life-giving journey. When we accept Christ’s invitation, our lives are meant to overflow with hope and purpose that cannot be contained.
Avoiding Spiritual Self-Satisfaction
I also remember trying to discourage my daughter from calling everyone late at night. I was probably a bit of a wet blanket.
Similarly, the Pharisees reacted to Jesus eating with sinners by asking, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
Their problem? They didn’t see their need for Jesus because they were spiritually self-satisfied. They didn’t recognize their spiritual need and thought they didn’t need Him.
This is a caution for all of us. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking we’re “good enough” or that our religious routines protect us. But pride blinds us to the grace we desperately need.
True discipleship requires humility—recognizing we are sinners saved by grace, not self-righteous judges of others.
The Iverson Example: Missing the Point
NBA star Allen Iverson’s infamous 2002 press conference offers a modern example of misplaced priorities. Just a year earlier, he was the NBA Most Valuable Player, but in this interview, he said:
“We talkin’ ‘bout practice. Not a game… not the game I go out there and die for… we talkin’ ‘bout practice.”
Iverson’s frustration was understandable, but what stuck with people was what it revealed. Practice didn’t seem to matter much to him—and over time, that attitude caught up with his career. As one commentator noted, “Allen Iverson is out of the league, and that says it all.”
Similarly, the Pharisees were so caught up in outward appearances and rules that they missed the heart of the gospel.
The Pharisees’ Blind Spot: Pride and Rule-Keeping
The Pharisees had a similar blind spot. They knew the rituals, followed the rules, and thought they were winning the religious “game.” But they missed the point.
They didn’t believe they needed grace or forgiveness. Their spiritual pride blinded them to their need for Jesus.
We must be wary of letting religious performance replace genuine faith. The goal is not rule-keeping but relationship—with God and others.
The Invitation Still Stands
The good news is Jesus came for people like Levi—and also for people like the Pharisees. But only one group recognized their need; the other thought they were fine.
The invitation is still open: follow Jesus.
- Follow Him from wherever you are.
- Follow Him with full commitment.
- And don’t be so spiritually self-satisfied that you miss the Savior standing right in front of you.
