“Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” Luke 5:5 NLT
I opened the large manilla envelope with excitement and amazement. I knew what was inside. The evidence of my YES to a ministry calling. The proof that I had obeyed God YES by YES through years of classwork, application, testing, and interview. I slid out the certificate bearing my name as a licensed minister of the Assemblies of God. As I held that hard-earned certificate, I found myself praying, “Okay, God. I obeyed You. Now what?” Now that I had that certificate, I had no idea how God wanted me to use it. So, I began to seek God for my next YES and another season of YES by YES began until He opened the doors He had planned for me.
Where has your YES taken you, my friend? Your whole life is a compilation of YES and NO.
When Peter gave Jesus his YES and threw the net on the other side of the boat, he began to compile a different set of YES and NO. That one act of obedience set the stage for a life he had not imagined. Much like pursuing ministry credentials changed my direction. What about you? How has your obedience made a difference? Why does YES change everything?
Obedience is more powerful than faith. Think about it. Peter obeyed Jesus even though he didn’t really have faith. He acted based on his understanding of who Jesus was. “If you say so…” That is all it took to release the miracle. Peter obeyed and the nets filled to the breaking point.
We struggle to obey. At least, I do. I want to figure things out. I want to know what will happen when I obey. I want to have faith for the miracle before I obey. Some people have that, and I believe that is a gift of faith. I rarely operate in that gift. That kind of faith doesn’t come naturally to me.
But Peter encourages me because he demonstrates that I don’t need to have faith when I obey. The power is in the obedience.
Life is an accumulation of our responses. When God asks us to obey Him, He is inviting us to participate in His purposes. Our lives are an accumulation of our responses. My YES to a ministry calling meant YES to entering the preparation process and all that went with that. I rearranged schedules to attend classes. I invested hours in studying. I experienced a myriad of emotions on the journey as I pressed through the self-doubt and questions. But YES kept nudging me forward. And on the day that I held that certificate a new accumulation of responses began as I explored where YES would take me next.
How are you responding to God, Friend? What is He asking you to say YES to? How is He inviting you to participate in His purpose to redeem humanity to Himself? Where has YES taken you? And what is your next YES?
Your obedient response today sets you up for blessing tomorrow. I didn’t know when I stared at that certificate for the first time that six months later I would be offered my first full-time pastoral position. I didn’t know that that position would use skills that I had learned working ten years in a public middle school library. I didn’t know that that position would lead to other opportunities, like a trip to a conference in Southern California for my first glimpse of the Pacific Ocean or a mission trip to teach in Kenya and Uganda. There were so many people I gained the privilege of meeting, knowing and loving because I said YES to the calling…and the process…and the position. The accumulation of YES led to the accumulation of blessings. I am so grateful!
Dear Friend, God gives you and me opportunities to respond every day. Your obedient response today builds on your past obedience and opens the door to future blessings. Be steadfast in your obedience today and God will do amazing things tomorrow.
Evaluate your responses to God. Let Him make the necessary changes so that you can move forward in His purposes for you. Just say YES. YES changes everything.
Key Question: How are you responding to God?
A Scripture to Consider: “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” Luke 5:5 NLT
A YES Challenge: Set a timer for ten minutes and prayerfully review yesterday. What opportunities did God give you to say YES to Him? How did you respond? What will you change today?
Prayer: Dear Father, thank you for daily opportunities to obey You. I don’t always handle them well. I can’t always see the benefit of obedience. Help me to obey in the power of faith. Help me to remember that obedience is more powerful than faith. As I persevere in obedience You are doing Your good work in me, shaping me into the image of Jesus. Because You said it, I will do it and trust You for the future. Amen.