We Say Yes

“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
John 14:21

“Praise the LORD, all nations!  Extol him, all peoples!  For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.  Praise the LORD!”
Psalm 117
There is always a direct correlation between love and obedience.  Love will always equal obedience in the same way that love will almost always equal sacrifice.  But there is something that is so breathtaking about this idea.  That is that God is so trustworthy and faithful and steadfast that no sacrifice would ever be in vain.  God, our amazing Father has more than our best in mind. 

When you really think about it, the idea of God asking you to do something or give up something, or go somewhere isn't really about what God gets out of it.  God doesn't exactly need us.  It's not like God is standing up in heaven going, "You know, I really need your money," or, "I could really use your help in this area, I don't think I can quite handle it."  Absolutely not. 

The incredible thing is that our obedience is our chance to experience God move.  Our saying yes is an act of trust and faith that draws us deeper to the heart of our Creator.  God has never asked us to give up something or some place that He didn't fully intend to replace with something greater... namely Himself.  If we fail to see how all satisfying He truly is, of course we would have a hard time letting go.

I would ask you to strive to see the vanity of this world.  What good does it do you to hold on to something that is perishing when you could grab hold of an imperishable glory that you will have with Jesus?  And then, as God continually reveals how this world pales in comparison, that your answer to Him would perpetually be, "Yes."


You have been more than steadfast more than faithful
To carry us through the depths
We respond to the movement of Your grace
Carried by the wind of Your words

This is the moment, here and now
To let love be our cause

And we say yes, yes Lord
Yes to anything You ask
We surrender to the wonder
Of the story of redeeming love
We say yes

To the highest and farthest
We surrender to Your heart
To the lowest and the darkest
We surrender to Your heart