Thursday, January 5, 2012 - Just Say "Yes"

"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 19-22

     I finally saw Steven Spielberg's dinosaur movie "Jurassic Park" from beginning to end over the holidays. I had only seen bits and pieces (pardon the visual imagery that phrase may evoke) before but now I understand the plot and the debates about how far science should and shouldn't go in the pursuit of creating life.  One intelligent scientist voiced his concerns about reviving the dinosaur world based on his theory of chaos: always expect the unexpected because it will happen. We can't control life even if we get to the point of cloning it.  Life has a way of getting around our control, breaking through restraints and obstacles and happening in spite of us. 

    God deposited in each living being the will to live.  He also puts His Spirit in the lives of believers to empower us to live by faith in Christ when the world pushes us to give up and quit.  

"'But My righteous one will live by faith.  

And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.'  

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, 

but of those who believe and are saved."  

Hebrews 10:38-39 

Just like Jesus' disciples in the early days of their journey, we decide daily whether to say "Yes, all things are possible with You" to Jesus or to say "No, I don't believe we (You) can handle this one." 

"He said to His disciples, "Why are you so afraid?  Do you still have no faith?"  

They were terrified and asked each other, 

"Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!"  

Mark 4:40

People disillusioned with the "half-gods" in their lives need to see believers live by faith in the One Who replaces chaos with order, darkness with light, "no" with "yes."   They need us to stand firm by hanging on to Christ in a world of both slick and sticky immorality. Their spiritual future could change by seeing us live with divine purpose, unashamedly giving God all the credit and speaking the Name "Jesus" without discomfort.  Neighbors and acquaintances watch to see if the future frightens us as it does them or if we're unfazed because we know we're in the Hands of Love. They need guarantees and Our One True God is the only guarantee in this life and the next.  

Lord, we need You.  Terrify us with Your power as You did the disciples so we can't deny Your Presence.  Jolt us into living by faith and loving every minute of You working in and around us.  Fill us with the desire to be the shining lights You call us to be.  Fill us with love and compassion to live so others will know You and live forever in heaven with us.   Guard us from guarding ourselves from You.  Open our hearts wide to release the Spirit's work in us. May we say "So be it, Amen" to whatever "Yes" You have for our lives today!

In the Name of Jesus, the "Yes" to all God's promises