Life is full of opportunities to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Some of us are ‘people pleasers’. We find it difficult to say ‘no’. Sometimes we end up over-extending ourselves because we say ‘yes’ too much. We end up having to force ourselves to say ‘no’, just so we can get our life back. Other people seem to only know how to say ‘no’. They are naturally contrary. It is almost like it is their mission to decline every idea, regardless of its merit. Most leaders are looking for people in their organization who will say ‘yes’, but only if they really believe in the idea or the project. A great leader values honest response, and an eagerness to get on board if the person is convinced. But there are some leaders who are only looking to surround themselves with ‘yes men’. These leaders just want people who will support them even if their ideas stink. So there is a lot that goes into a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’. The same is true with your spiritual life. You have to determine what we will agree to and what you will decline on a daily basis. There are multiple choices every day that will determine future success. We have temptations that we must resist, and tests we need to pass. The doing follows the saying. We say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ in our hearts before we put actions to the words. When it comes to following Jesus, we need to be quick to say ‘yes’. The fact that He would call us to follow and obey Him is pretty remarkable. We have nothing in us that is commendable to the Kingdom before He gives us new life. Then He invites us to step into His mission with Him. It is indeed a great honor and privilege to answer His call. Throughout His earthly ministry Christ would call people to leave their current life and become His disciple. Sometimes it was a simple as looking at them and saying, “Follow me.” Other times it was more of a conversation and explanation of what following would look like. Various people had different responses. Some dropped everything, said “Yes”, and followed Jesus. Others wanted to know more about this commitment. And then there were those who after hearing the ramifications of giving up their own life to accept the life offered by Jesus said, “No”. Throughout history it has been the same way. Even today we have the same decision to make. God is calling you to do something today. He is asking or commanding that you give up some sort of comfort in your normal life and step out on an adventure with Him. It may be something great or small. But He is waiting for your response. Will you say ‘yes’ or ‘no’? The Bible is full of people who made that same choice. One such person is Isaiah. God was looking for someone to speak for Him in a culture that had forgotten God. Isaiah stepped into a worship time with God and this is what happened, “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and His robe filled the temple. Seraphim (angels) were standing above Him; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts; His glory fills the whole earth.’ The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke. Then I said: ‘Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts.’ Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said: Now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed and your sin is atoned for. Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: ‘Who should I send? Who will go for Us?’ I said: ‘Here I am. Send me.’” (Isaiah 6:1-8) In saying “Yes” to God, Isaiah was able to experience and record some of the greatest prophecies about the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. Saying ‘Yes’ to God is actually the most natural thing one can do. We were created to say ‘Yes’ to God. Nature responds to God. God has never proven Himself untrustworthy, so He always deserves a quick ‘Yes’. God is actually looking for ‘Yes men’, because He is only true and good. He will never ask anything of us that is wrong or bad for us. There is a blessing in our ‘Yessing”. When we say ‘Yes’ to God we loose the power of Heaven. Our ‘Yes’ is the seed. God’s transformational power is the harvest. If you want to see God do something you can’t do in your life, just say ‘Yes’ as soon as He calls you. If you want to open the door to the miraculous, ‘Yes’ is the key. If you want to be free from spiritual shackles that have held you bound for years, ‘Yes’ is the key. You never had any problem saying ‘yes’ to Satan when he led you into sin. Get this… it is as normal and easy for a child of God to say ‘yes’ to Him as it is for a child of darkness to say ‘yes’ to the Devil. Today you will have to say ‘yes’ and ‘no’ several times for various things. Choose wisely. And when it comes to responding to the call of Christ, always say ‘Yes’… and say ‘Yes’ quickly. This devotional was inspired by a message delivered by Pastor Jack Harper at CrossRoads Church in Antioch, TN. [Bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.] Find more of David’s work at Heart Of Ministry. Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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AuthorMy name is David, and I want to know God more, and help other people find Him. Archives
March 2019
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