July 19, 2022 – Reflections on “Yes!”

For all the promises of God find their ‘Yes’ in Him. That is why it is through Him we utter our Amen to God for His glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put His seal on us and given us His Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. 2 Corinthians 1:20-22.

        I remember the day my friend gave me this plate. It gave me a message to put into practice every day. Thank you, dear friend, ‘I’m still saying, ‘Yes’ to Jesus!’

It is when we understand who God is and know Him does this verse gain importance. Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And He said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:13-14.

         When we introduce ourselves to someone, we say, “I am”– and follow with our name. And our name carries a blessing or is reviled, according to the life we have chosen to live. We reflect how we live each day. There are two choices–righteousness or evil. It is when our lives reflect the love of Jesus.

         John the Baptist appeared and preaching a baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins. And he preached, saying, “After me comes He who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Mark 1:7-8.

         Jesus completed God’s ‘I Am’ to Abraham. If we have any doubt about Jesus, just reading the list of ‘I Am’s should leave no doubts.  Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” John 6:35.

         Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” John 8:12.

          Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:58.

         So, Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.” John 10:7.

          I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.John 10:9.

          I am the good shepherd. The good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. John 10:11.

         Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26.

         Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” John 14:6-7.

         And this Jesus was crucified to be the sacrifice for our sins, so we can be Children of God when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Jesus is the Light of the World–and what did God create first? And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. Genesis 1:3-4.

         If we deny Christ Jesus, we turn off the Light in our lives, and live in darkness. The absence of physical light creates a darkness beyond what we had ever experienced. Seven Kindergartners learned this when we explored a cave together. We held hands and then the electric light was extinguished. We heard the flutter of a bat’s wings; a possible danger we could not see. After a long 5 minutes, the light came on, and what a relief to see each other’s faces again.

         This is so, with spiritual light. Ten years ago, my husband and I moved to a new city and a new church family. What would we find? As I walked into the first Sunday service, the physical light did not change, but the spiritual light was rekindled and gave me peace and joy to be with God’s people, a coming home.

         All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:3-5.

         When we have trouble defining who we are, we need to sing the song, “New Name Written in Glory.” “I am who I am because the ‘I Am’ tells me who I am.” (Musixmatch)

         Foremost, we are chosen before the Earth was created. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love, He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will. Ephesians 1:3-5.

         Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Colossians 3:12-13.

         The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!Psalm 27:1,14.