Saying Yes To God
Yes. That sounds like an easy enough word to say. But then again that would depend on the question. If I asked you to go to coffee yes might be easy. If I asked you to empty your checking account and give it to me maybe not so easy.
Ultimately God is after our yes. When he gave his son to purchase our own salvation he requires a “yes” from us to accept it. We don’t have to. Many of those reading this have given God their yes. I did at 14 and never looked back. I was saved in the heat of the Jesus Movement in the 70’s and man was that an exciting time to be a Believer!
The real problem can be that we really didn’t understand what that simple yes would involve. I for one never saw the small print in that deal. I mean Abram said yes to a promised child and to be the Father of many nations. Woo hoo! He did not know at the time he’d have to wait 20 years for that yes to manifest and somewhere in there God would ask him to give that promise back in sacrifice on a mountain by his own knife. Eek!
Moses said yes to God to lead his people to the Promised Land. For forty years he walked in circles in the dessert listening to their grumblings and when that land was within sight he was not allowed to take them in. I can just hear his…are you serious?? #SadDay
Ester was given the opportunity to save her people from extinction. But doing so would mean her life could be in jeopardy. The Queen was not allowed to go into the King without invitation. She literally risked her life to save the Jews. Thankfully the King was crazy about her!
Noah said yes to build a boat for a coming flood when it had never rained once on the earth. He risked ridicule for over 100 years while building it not knowing for sure rain would come or what it even was. He had to watch almost everyone he ever knew drown when the floodwaters rose.
Daniel and his friends risked their lives with their yes to obeying God and their subsequent no to the King to bow to his image. They had to actually enter the furnace and look eminent death square in the face not knowing an angel would save them all. #CloseCall
Jesus…he gave the ultimate yes when he chose to leave heaven, become a man, and give his life to save us. Knowing there would be people who would not receive his sacrifice, not accept his gift of life and turn their backs on him. He still chose to come for us. #HardYes
How do we practically say yes daily:
1. Be listening in every situation. We can tend to react to pain or opportunity instead of taking the time to turn our hearts toward him with a listening ear.
2. Be open. A closed heart says no to God. Be open to his opinion and leading and open to the possibility he knows best.
3. Be ready. Be ready to go where you don’t’ want to go and ready to obey his leading when you already had your own plan in mind.
Yes sometimes means more than we initially understand it will. We think in salvation we are just saying yes to eternity. But you may have noticed that’s not all you signed up for. For me I didn’t realize I was saying yes to God’s dealings with my very alive flesh. Seems he’s repeatedly asked me to lop off huge chunks of it without anesthetic by submitting to his dealings with my pride and selfishness. Asking us to go into Ministry was a hard yes for me and after we were there it was another heard yes not to quit. He’s asked me to let him lead when I wanted my way, submit to my husband when I wanted to punch him, pray for my enemies when I would like to have killed them and told God they died…#Truth
James 4:8 MSG says, “Say a quiet yes to God and He’ll be there in no time (we like that first part). Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field.” Oh so saying yes means I have to quit sinning? Purify my inner life? Who sees that anyway…oh God does, all right then. Yes is more than yes.
2 Corinthians 1:20 NLT says, “For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding yes! And through Christ our Amen (which means Yes) ascends to God for his glory.” Our yes brings glory to God because in our yes we are saying no to ourselves. No to our own way, what we want, what we think we need and no to the opportunities we get everyday to not forgive someone who hurts us, no to bitterness that creeps up our abdomen like a virus racing straight for our heart when the sting of betrayal pounces on our tattered soul.
For each of our longing yes’s we speak in love to our God we are abdicating more of our wills over to him. Saying no to the thing we desire in the heat of the moment gives him the glory he deserves. Each time we remember we said yes way back when and choose to follow through, more of our Father is seen in us. #Goals