I Have Decided - Jeremiah Payne

Sep 01, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: When Foxes Have Nests But Jesus Doesn’t

Following Jesus means embracing discomfort as training ground. Christ warned potential followers about homelessness and instability not to scare them, but to reframe hardship as spiritual conditioning. Just as athletes build muscle through resistance, believers develop perseverance when walking through trials. God doesn’t abandon us in difficulty – He uses it to forge unshakable trust. This daily surrender prepares us for assignments requiring radical obedience. [05:53]

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
(James 1:2-4, ESV)

Reflection: What current challenge feels like an obstacle to your faith? How might God be using it to strengthen your spiritual endurance instead?

Day 2: Let the Dead Bury Their Own Dead

True discipleship requires releasing “good excuses” that mask divided loyalties. Jesus’ harsh response to the man wanting to bury his father exposes our tendency to prioritize worldly responsibilities over kingdom urgency. Spiritual delay often disguises itself as practical wisdom – waiting for financial security, family approval, or life stability before wholehearted obedience. Christ calls us to trust His provision more than our preparedness. [07:42]

“No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.”
(2 Timothy 2:4, ESV)

Reflection: What “reasonable delay” have you placed between your current life and full obedience? What would it look like to surrender that timeline to Christ today?

Day 3: Hands on the Plow, Eyes on the Furrow

Backward glances sabotage forward momentum. Ancient farmers knew looking back while plowing created crooked rows. Jesus uses this agrarian image to warn against spiritual double vision – trying to follow Him while emotionally clinging to past relationships, habits, or identities. Discipleship demands the courage to release what once defined us, even when others question our new trajectory. [08:16]

“But Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’”
(Luke 9:62, ESV)

Reflection: What familiar people or patterns keep pulling your gaze backward? How might you intentionally fix your eyes on Christ’s calling this week?

Day 4: From Bleacher-Sitting to Field-Playing

Faith grows stagnant when treated as spectator sport. The modern church often confuses attendance for participation, consuming sermons and worship experiences without engaging spiritual battles. Like athletes who never leave the bench, we risk atrophying while cheering others’ obedience. True discipleship means getting grass stains on our knees – praying, serving, and risking failure in active ministry. [02:28]

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
(Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you been observing faith instead of practicing it? What one step could take you from the stands to the field this month?

Day 5: The Martyr’s Hymn Before the Executioner

Total surrender sings louder than circumstances. The missionary family’s final act – singing “I have decided” as their children were killed – reveals faith’s ultimate purpose: glorifying God beyond self-preservation. Their hymn wasn’t denial of pain but affirmation of Christ’s worthiness. Every daily “yes” to Jesus prepares us for moments requiring courageous allegiance. [03:31]

“Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Blessed indeed,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!’”
(Revelation 14:13, ESV)

Reflection: What situation in your life needs you to declare “no turning back” through both words and actions? How can you affirm Christ’s worthiness in it today?

Sermon Summary

Luke 9:57-62 puts three would-be followers in front of Jesus, and each response shows that following Him cannot stay casual. Faith with no limits does not sit in the bleachers, watch the game, and call that participation. Jesus calls people onto the field, into a real life of obedience where “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back” becomes more than a song.

Jesus begins with the picture of foxes having dens and birds having nests while the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head. That picture makes the cost plain. Following Jesus can be difficult, uncomfortable, and full of challenges that do not come with easy answers. God does not allow trials just to say, “Deal with it,” but uses struggles to build perseverance and deeper trust. Perseverance gives faith room to grow past limits, so hardship does not keep believers from going where God calls them.

The second would-be follower says, “Lord, first let me go bury my father.” Jesus answers, “Let the dead bury their own dead,” not because family does not matter, but because spiritual life cannot wait until every worldly concern is settled. The desire to get possessions, status, career goals, finances, or life plans together first can become an excuse to delay obedience. Jesus calls the living to follow Him now, trusting that He will provide and lead them where He wants them to go.

The final would-be follower wants to say goodbye at home, but Jesus points to a person plowing while looking back. A person looking backward cannot walk forward well, and a person looking back at an old life can get pulled away from the direction God has set. Old friends, temptations, familiar sins, and even voices close to home can say, “Come back to the old you.” The kingdom calls for eyes forward, hands on the plow, and a willingness to release whatever keeps faith from moving ahead.

The decision to follow Jesus means more than admiring Him or waiting for a better season. Christ calls people out of casual faith, past excuses, and away from backward glances. God calls each person to follow Him right now, in workplaces, schools, grocery stores, homes, and every place already in front of them.

Key Takeaways

1. Faith must leave the bleachers Casual consumption can look spiritual while avoiding the real cost of obedience. Jesus does not call people merely to observe faith, critique faith, or enjoy faith from a safe distance. Faith with no limits steps onto the field and follows Christ where He leads. [02:28]
2. Trials build persevering trust Jesus never promises a path with guaranteed comfort, security, or ease. God uses struggles to develop perseverance, teaching believers to depend on Him when circumstances feel uncertain. A faith that has been tested can go places an untested faith may fear to enter. [05:53]
3. Jesus cannot be postponed Worldly goals can become respectable reasons for putting off surrender. Career plans, money, possessions, and a desired status cannot give the security that Christ already offers. Jesus calls people to obey in the season they are in, not in an imagined future when everything is finally together. [07:42]
4. Keep your eyes facing forward Old relationships, habits, and temptations can invite believers back into a life Christ has called them out of. The hand on the plow represents a life set toward the kingdom, while the backward glance reveals a divided heart. Christ gives strength to release what keeps pulling faith off course.

## [09:15]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:34] - Faith With No Limits
[01:57] - Casual Consumers or Active Followers
[03:31] - The Decision to Follow Jesus
[03:52] - Luke 9 and the Cost of Following
[04:38] - Perseverance Through Challenges
[06:16] - Sacrificing Delayed Obedience
[08:16] - No Looking Back
[10:23] - A Call to Get Out of the Bleachers
[11:43] - Releasing What Holds Faith Back
[12:43] - Prayer for Young People and the Church

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 9:57-62
“As they were going along the road, someone said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ To another he said, ‘Follow me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, let me first go and bury my father.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ Yet another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’” [03:52]

James 1:2-4
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” [05:17]

Observation questions

What three responses or hesitations do the would-be followers give Jesus in Luke 9:57-62, and how does Jesus answer each one? [03:52]
What does Jesus’ statement about foxes, birds, and the Son of Man show about the comfort and security a person may expect while following Him? [04:38]
In James 1:2-4, what does the testing of faith produce, and what is the hoped-for result of steadfastness?
What examples of things that can delay obedience to Jesus are identified—such as possessions, career goals, financial goals, or a desired status? [11:09]

Interpretation questions

Why might Jesus begin by speaking about having nowhere to lay His head before accepting the person’s promise to follow Him wherever He goes? What does this reveal about a faith that is ready to follow only when life is comfortable? [04:48]
Jesus tells the second person to proclaim the kingdom of God rather than postpone following Him. How does this passage help believers distinguish between responsible care for family and using responsibilities as reasons to delay obedience? [07:42]
James does not say that trials themselves are pleasant. What does it mean to count trials as joy because God can use them to produce steadfastness and deeper trust? [05:17]
Why is looking back while plowing such a fitting picture of a divided heart? How can old relationships, familiar habits, and former sins pull a believer away from the direction Jesus is leading? [09:03]

Application questions

Where might you be watching faith from the “bleachers” instead of stepping onto the field through active obedience? Is there one clear step Jesus may be inviting you to take this week? [10:38]
Think about a current trial, disappointment, or uncertainty in your life. How might God be building perseverance and trust in Him through it? What would it look like to depend on Him rather than let the difficulty stop you? [05:36]
Is there a “first let me” excuse that keeps showing up in your heart—perhaps “after I have more money,” “after I reach a career goal,” or “after life settles down”? What might following Jesus faithfully look like in your present season? [11:11]
In the places already in front of you—your workplace, school, home, neighborhood, or regular stores—how could you live as someone who is following and proclaiming the kingdom of God this week? [11:28]
Are there relationships, temptations, habits, or voices from your old life that make it hard to keep your eyes forward? What healthy boundary, honest conversation, or support from another believer could help you release what pulls you backward? [11:47]
When following Jesus costs comfort, approval, time, or personal plans, what helps you remember that He is with you and will provide for what He calls you to do? [07:55]

Sermon Clips

32s

#StepIntoTheField

“Ask yourself, am I a casual follower of Jesus right now? Do I need to step into the field and play the game? And so I wanna pray for us and say, God, help us to have affecting you that decides to follow you. And says that no matter the challenges or the struggles or the trials in life, we're gonna depend on you. Because in our weakness, you are strong. Yes.”

29s

#ChooseToFollowToday

“Let today be the day that they said no matter what obstacles are in the way, no matter what temptations are trying to trip me up, no matter what worldly things that I have my eye on, God, I will put all those things to the side so I can decide to follow you. So, Lord, let's anybody here today speak to them and minister to their heart right now that they can forever have relationship with you.”

36s

#TodayIChooseJesus

“And, God, I also wanna pray maybe there's somebody who has not given their life to you today. Let today be the day that they said no matter what obstacles are in the way, no matter what temptations are trying to trip me up, no matter what worldly things that I have my eye on, God, I will put all those things to the side so I can decide to follow you. So, Lord, let's anybody here today speak to them and minister to their heart right now that they can forever have relationship with you.”

36s

#ChooseNewPath

“You might hear some people trying to tell you, hey, this Jesus thing you're doing, this is crazy. Why are you doing that? Why don't you come back to your old life and do these things at the way they used to do? I used to actually have friends in my life who, when I was in the party party scene with them and and doing all types of crazy stuff, when I first came to Christ, they were like, we remember the old Jeremiah. Why don't you come back and do these things with me? I knew immediately these people that I can no longer be in my life because I'm trying to do something and go to a different place that God is calling calling me to go.”

41s

#NoMoreCasualFaith

“And so maybe you are you are in this place today where you maybe need to ask myself, ask yourself, am I a casual follower of Jesus right now? Do I need to step into the field and play the game? And so I wanna pray for us and say, God, help us to have affecting you that decides to follow you. And says that no matter the challenges or the struggles or the trials in life, we're gonna depend on you. Because in our weakness, you are strong. Yes.”

38s

#ServeNowWhereYouAre

“And also, God, there might be some career goals or maybe some financial goals we wanna get to, or maybe we wanna say we wanna buy that house, or maybe when we get this car, we're gonna be alright, and we're gonna be in the place. So now I can go and do the things that God has called me to do. So, God, if there are things that are getting in our way that are telling us that we gotta get to this certain status, show us that we can follow you right now in the things that you want us to do, in the places that you called us to be, in our workplace, in the grocery store, in our schools, wherever it is, God. You called us all to a specific place.”

33s

#PerseveranceBuildsFaith

“And so the same needs to be for us when we go through these different challenges and our walk and in our faith when God even causes us something that we might not even know how to deal with just yet and it's gonna cause us to struggle a bit. God is building up perseverance in us so that we can have a faith that has no boundaries, no limitations, and that won't prevent us from going anywhere that God is asking us and calling us to go to. So in our walk, we all need to develop a perseverance so our faith will have no limits.”

42s

#FaithInActionNotSpectators

“And so I just wanna say even while we're trying to practice out these values in our church and when we're following the commandments of God, we are taking our faith to a place that has no limits and no boundaries. But this is one concern that I I think I have when I just look at the church overall in our country. It's almost that we become casual consumers of following Jesus. I I put it I heard this this, illustration by doctor Tony Evans that he's like, most of us are sitting in the stands and in the bleachers of this thing we call faith, but we're not getting into the field and playing the game. We're just watching and taking apart.”

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