Being A Yes Man

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.” –  2 Corinthians 1:20

“Yes” and “no” are typically the first words we use when we are small children. And even as adults, we make countless decisions each day stemming from a simple “yes” or “no.” Yes, I will get up and get ready for work. Yes, I will spend time in the word this morning. No, I won’t go over the bridge because there is construction on it. No, I won’t be late for small group tonight. There is a whole lot of choices we make on a daily basis.   

The Bible is often seen as a book of “no’s:” a long list of dos and don’ts, mostly don’ts that prohibit any fun in life. But is that true? Is the Bible a bunch of nos? There are certainly nos in the Bible, but behind every “no” from God is a greater “yes.” God doesn’t just say “no” to selfishness, he also offers us the great “yes” of generosity. God doesn’t create an arbitrary boundary by saying “no” to sex outside of marriage; He offers us the greater “yes” of intimacy. And God doesn’t just say “no” to stressful living; He says “yes” to a fulfilled life.  If you look at it that way, it will revolutionize the way you look at the Bible and the Christian life.

But here is the question: Have you said yes to all of God’s yes’s to you? Or is there some part of God’s yes to you to which you are saying no or maybe next year when things are better. We often find it quite difficult to say yes to God, especially when there is much at risk. God knows that we have our struggles, that we are not perfect. He knows that it’s so hard to say yes to Him at times. After all, saying yes to God usually means saying no to ourselves and to the things we want. But He loves us all the same, and His son, Jesus, calls us to be disciples, saying, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.” (Mark 8:34)

This might sound next to impossible to you, but remember that Jesus called ordinary people like you and me to be His disciples, and we can learn from so many different examples of people saying yes to God in the Bible. Moses said yes when God told him to ask Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. Mary said yes when the angel asked her to carry Jesus, the only Son of God. The disciples said yes when Jesus asked them to leave everything behind and follow Him. These people were not superheroes with great stamina and strength. They were normal people who suffered, struggled, and cried but still said yes to God.   

So what does saying yes to God give us? More than you can dare to dream. God is sending you a special invitation to a fuller, happier life. He is asking you to share your very unique talents, whatever they may be, for His great glory and for the good of others. If you say yes to God, you are saying to Him, “You are the most important part of my life. I trust you. I love you, and I believe that you have so many wonderful things in store for me.”

Discussion Questions:

1. What does saying “yes” to God mean to you? 
2. What can we do going forward to say “yes” to God more often?