Saying “yes” to greater love

The young man and I were discussing what shapes his life, the way he makes decisions. He belongs to an organization that is an off shoot of the US Navy. Interestingly, he said that when he put on his military uniform he felt a real obligation to monitor his behavior, to live in a way that honors those who also wear it, that recognizes the esprit de corps. When he made the choice to say “yes” to the uniform, he also made a decision to say “no” to other things. It’s a priority thing! That made me think about being part of another organization and the uniform I wear.

The Scripture says "All who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:27-28, NLT) I am identified primarily by my relationship with Christ Jesus, my Lord. It’s a priority choice. Saying ‘no’ to some decisions is much simpler when we have made a priority choice to say ‘yes’ to God! Our desire to live honorably for Him, to know His pleasure, to do His will draws us past other temptations that would pull us off the Way. Our inclination to wander is diminished when we have set our affections on Christ, when we have ‘fixed our eyes on Jesus.’

Many years ago someone handed me a little pamphlet that I did not much appreciate at the time. It was titled “Others may, You cannot.” It seemed narrow to me then, negative in tone. The author’s wrote about the high calling of the Christian who desired to walk intimately with the Holy Spirit. In part, it read:
“The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you, with a jealous love, and will rebuke you for little words and feelings or for wasting your time, which other Christians never feel distressed over. So make up your mind that God is an Infinitely Sovereign Being, and has a right to do as He pleases with His own. He may not explain to you a thousand things which puzzle your reason in His dealings with you, but if you absolutely sell yourself to be His love slave, He will wrap you up in Jealous Love, and bestow upon you many blessings which come only to those who are in the inner circle.” -G. D. Watson Those words are no longer negative to me. They are precious words that encourage me to choose to say “yes” to greater love.

That is narrow, but it is the same kind of narrowness that preserves my marriage – a priority choice to love only one. Giving myself entirely to Bev in fidelity excludes other relationships, but builds a depth of intimacy between us that no one can share, that is our singular blessing and privilege.
Have you put on Christ? Are all other descriptions about you secondary to that one?
Here’s a word from the Word. May it call you to a priority choice to say “yes” to greater love.
"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.


There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4:1-6, NKJV)