The power of "YES"

46 years ago one August evening,  I asked a beautiful young woman to be my wife. In later years, we laughed when we looked back on my awkward proposal, anything but romantic. I earnestly told her about my highest calling to Christian ministry and the unique challenges of being a pastor’s wife. Bev wondered if I was attempting to end our relationship, but when I fumbled my way to finally ask her to be my partner-  she said “Yes!”  We were blessed with 41 years together. The journey brought us 4 children, shared ministry in 4 different churches, and enduring love.

We had a few days when we wondered about that “Yes,” but we never set aside the covenant we made that night of January 10, 1975.  What strength and security there is in an unwavering commitment – to God first; then to another. When those dark days of sickness came the deepest joy of keeping our promise emerged. Bev was secure in my love, increasing dependent on me in every way as her life closed. In all of the sorrow of letting her go, there was for me the satisfaction of knowing that I walked with her the last mile of the way. 

Let’s think about the power of saying “Yes” today, not just to someone we love but to the Lord as well. Christians are blessed and a blessing when they live the word of Jesus – "Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." (Matthew 5:37, NIV)  I trust that kind of person with my life!

God has said a POWERFUL “YES” to us.  "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." (2 Corinthians 1:20-22, NIV)  God’s faithfulness to keep His promise is the foundation of our Christian hope. He made a covenant with us, not a contract. He guarantees the newness of life, our salvation, and our eternal home by His own Word. His “yes” is our security, asking us to receive His grace, by faith.

 There is no need to add anything, to think of our relationship with Him with anything but great assurance.  In the first covenant of the Law, sacrifices where made day after day, year after year for the sins of the people. Sins were covered but not removed. The Word teaches us who are in Christ that we now have a completed salvation, a final and unequivocal “yes” through Him. Jesus Himself opened the Way to Life. "By one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. … (so) let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:14,22, NIV)  What a great hope.

Will you answer His invitation to accept His grace with your own “yes” that has no sub-clauses, no hidden reservations?

As you live in the life of the Spirit, there will be days when the Evil One works at diverting attention to those things that disappoint, things for which we have no explanation, suggesting that “God is not faithful” with the aim of making us waver in our faith in God’s promises.  Eve, in the Garden, heard his whisper about her Creator that held the suggestion that God was not good, that He was withholding good from her, and she sinned. He will attempt the same with you, with me.  When we are enjoying blessings, readily join David’s song “God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true.” (2 Samuel 22:31) When times like our present come, when we walk with sickness or temptation – we can be tempted to think that God’s promises are only for others. We may be tempted to question Him as David did in another of his songs, “How long, O Lord, will you look on and do nothing?”  (Psalm 35:17)

Today, focus away from your own abilities to ‘hold onto faith’ and away from the vagaries of life. Pray for faith’s sight that sees the face of the One who promises. 

His promises are “Yes and Amen.”  Nothing and no one can steal His love from us. Confess that and defeat your doubts. 

Hope that is fixed on the unchanging promise of our Father is a solid anchor for our lives!

Here is a word from the Word - "Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise." (Hebrews 10:23, NLT)

________

All Your Promises

(let the joy of this praise song fill your heart)

 Oh Lord our Lord
How majestic is Your name
Your words are true
Your mercy does not change
All Your promises are precious
Reviving our faith
Ev'ry one of them
Will be fulfilled one day oh

All Your promises
Are yes and amen Jesus
Your promises are true
All Your promises
Are yes and amen Lord Jesus
We'll keep running after You

 We will run
We'll run and not grow weary
We will rise upon the eagle's wings
In the presence of the Lord
Our spirits will soar
Till we one day gaze upon our King oh

 My foot had almost slipped
Oh Lord you know I'd almost lost my way
‘Till I entered the house of the Lord
And heard Your sweet Spirit say oh

 All Your promises
Are yes and amen Jesus
Your promises are true
All Your promises
Are yes and amen Lord Jesus
We'll keep running after You

 

Andrew Smith © 1995 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Vineyard Music USA) Vineyard Songs Canada (Admin. by Vineyard Music USA)

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