April 1, 2004
“Just Say Yes”
I recently read a Christian novel entitled Sunset Coast by Susan
DeVore Williams. It’s been a long time since a novel challenged by heart
and spirit like this one did. An Episcopalian priest in the story
challenged the heroine to “just say “Yes” to Jesus everyday for a week, and
see what He would do.” For us seasoned Christians that should be easy,
right? But when you think about it, often when we are prompted by the
Lord we put Him off with “Later Lord, I‘m busy right now”; or “that’s
not my responsibility to do that…” etc. But though we haven’t really
told the Lord “No”, by not saying “Yes” we have defaulted to “No”. That
is what challenged me – for I really never say “No” to God, but often I
don’t really say “Yes” either, so in effect I have said “No”. Follow
me?
So I took the priest’s challenge from the book, and what a week I’ve
had! Phone calls I’ve been putting off have been made, overdue e-mail
replies have been sent, invitations have been made and unexpected and
difficult ones have been accepted, and during the whole time a new and
keener awareness to the presence and prompting of the Lord has been my
constant companion. Suddenly I’m again proactive in my Spiritual walk,
not just coasting along. I’m looking for His leading so that I can
immediately say “Yes” – and guess what, He hasn’t disappointed me!!
With Resurrection Day approaching very soon, what better time to renew
our covenants with Jesus Christ. Traditionally, as an
Evangelical/Pentecostal group of believers, we don’t “give up something for Lent”, and
though the discipline of sacrifice certainly is an appropriate activity
for Christians, I truly believe He would rather have our instant “yes”
obedience than all the sacrifices we could make.
To borrow a section from the referenced novel, on Easter Sunday,
“Father Amos … called Jesus ‘God’s living Word to mankind – the Word made
flesh, the Word that brings the dead to life again, the Word that is
God’s great, loving, eternally powerful ‘yes’ in each human heart. My
friends,” he said, “let none of us leave this sanctuary today without
knowing that the resurrected Christ is alive in our hearts. Let’s respond
to God’s gift to us. Let’s say ‘yes, Lord Jesus,’ ‘yes, risen Savior
and King,’ ‘yes, Prince of Peace,’ ‘yes, be the Ruler of my heart!’” …
”Do you remember the words of the angel in the empty tomb after the
Resurrection?” … “And do you remember what Jesus said when He first
appeared to the disciples after that? ‘Don’t be afraid!’ He said, ‘Don’t be
afraid!’ And those are His words to us today. ‘Don’t be afraid to say
yes to Me!”
So my Easter call to you is join me, everyday, in just saying “YES” to
Jesus!! Let’s see what God will do, and then, please share your
testimony with me.
Until next time … love and prayers,
RuthAnn Gleason, the Parson's Wife
ragleason@sbcglobal.net
