Yes

DEVOTION

2 CORINTHIANS

YES

2 Cor 1:18-20

18 But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not "Yes" and "No." 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not "Yes" and "No," but in him it has always been "Yes." 20 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.

NIV

It is always “yes” in Christ. There is no confusion with God. There is no I will if I feel like it with God. There is no maybe I will think about it with God. There is no “No” with God. It does not matter how rotten of a person we could have been, God has said “Yes” to redeem us through Christ Jesus. It does not matter how poorly we are able to living a life completely free of sin, God has said “Yes” to forgiving our sin through Christ Jesus. If we fail and ask for forgiveness, God says “Yes”. If we are in need of something and ask, God says “Yes”. The gospel message is a message of “Yes” not one of “No”. It is us who make the lists of do’s and don’ts that we think has some bearing on our relationship with God. True he does tell us there are attitudes and behaviors that we should discard, throw off and avoid. But he will always say “Yes” to us when we come to him and seek him. Our lists cannot do that. Our lists are simply lists and a series of check marks as if we are being graded, and that grading is not from God, but from either ourselves or other people. Sure, we need to pay attention to those areas of our life that do not please God, but he is not an angry vengeful God who looks for every opportunity to punish us and tell us “No” because we failed. He is a loving and caring Father looking for every opportunity to say “Yes” because we are his children and he desires the very best for us. That is why he sent Jesus to die for us, for our sin so that he would not have to say “No” you cannot enter my rest. Because of Jesus, God says “Yes” come and enter my rest, “Yes” come and be a part of my Heavenly Kingdom. God does not say “No” you cannot make it, you cannot do it. He says “Yes” you can do all things through Christ Jesus who gives you strength.  It is just a comfort to know we have a God of “Yes”.