Isaiah Pauley
  • Home
  • Bio
  • BLOG
  • Some Sermons
  • Home
  • Bio
  • BLOG
  • Some Sermons

Go with Jesus over places

6/13/2019

Comments

 
Picture
A few weeks ago, I found myself peddling the Walmart aisles for a graduation card. Honestly, I didn’t give it much effort. I knew my friend didn’t care about the type of card. Hallmark? A piece of paper folded hamburger style with stick people? He didn’t care. And neither did I. Until I found the perfect one: a card based on the book “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Seuss.

I’m not so sure if he likes Dr. Seuss. But I do. The creative illustrations, catchy wordplay, and rhythmic flow awaken my inner-child. But there’s something special about “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” Consider a couple of quotes.
​“Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away!”

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you’ll choose.”

By now, you probably see why this story makes a good graduation card. Or does it?

I’ve often been told, “You’re going places.” Maybe you have, too. But where?

Now, I tend to be a serious person. And sometimes, I take things too literally. But let me assure you that I understand the meaning behind this statement. It’s supposed to be a compliment, indicating that someone is likely to be successful. But if we’re not careful, we can become more concerned with “going places” than pursuing God.

In a world full of people who long to “go places,” Jesus is looking for people who long to be where He is and go where He leads.

Let’s turn our attention to the Bible.

“Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. And a scribe came up and said to him, ‘Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go’” (Matt. 8:18-19 ESV).

Crowds. We know what they look like. Arenas full of sport enthusiasts. Stadiums packed to the hilt. Passionate. Energetic. And full of admiration. But when it comes to commitment, the crowd begins to dwindle. When there’s a cost, the people start walking away. And that’s what happens in Matthew 8.

A guy approaches Jesus and promises to follow Him wherever He goes. And all of sudden, the thought of “going places” becomes less glamorous. After all, there’s a cost. A sacrifice.

“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’” (v. 20 ESV).

In other words, following Jesus requires us to set aside our comforts. It’s a call to turn from our sins and pick up our crosses (Matt. 16:24). And that’s hard. But it doesn’t stop another guy from approaching Jesus.

“Another of the disciples said to him, ‘Lord, let me first go and bury my father.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead’” (Matt. 8:21-22 ESV).

It sounds harsh. I agree. But there’s a deeper meaning behind what Jesus says. He’s showing this man that nothing in life compares to the incredible value of knowing and following Christ.

At one point, Jesus even says, “‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple’” (Luke 14:26 ESV).

By now, you may want me to shut up. I mean, how do I go from lighthearted Dr. Seuss to weighty scriptures? Well, there’s a reason. I promise.

As much as I love Dr. Seuss, life is more than “going places.” Life is knowing Jesus and going where He leads. But make no mistake about it, there’s a cost.

It’s hard to let go of yourself. It’s hard to deny your flesh. And yes, it’s hard to live the radical life that God calls you to live. But let me tell you, it’s so worth it.

Jesus says, “‘For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?’” (Matt. 16:25-26 ESV).

With that being said, I’d rather go with Jesus than go places. I’d rather walk with Jesus each and every day than find myself in a cool place without Him. I pray that you, too, decide to give your all to Jesus Christ.

And when you do—oh, the places you’ll go!
Comments

    Categories

    All
    Calling
    Christmas2019
    Church
    Classics
    Colossians Series
    Confidence
    Direction
    Discipleship
    Discipleship Series
    Doubt
    Ephesians Series
    Esther Series
    Expectations
    Failure
    Faith
    Fear
    Forgiveness
    Grace
    Grief
    Hope
    Identity
    Joy
    Justice
    Life
    Love
    Marriage
    Origins Of Christ
    Passion
    Peace
    Perspective
    Philemon Series
    Prayer
    (Re ) Series
    Rest
    Sacrifice
    Salvation
    Sin
    Student Ministry
    Surrender
    Thanksgiving
    Trust
    Work
    Worry
    Worship

    Archives

    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014

Proclaiming the Word through writing since 2014.

© 2022 Isaiah Pauley