20 February, 2019

Let Yes be Yours

We live in a wishy-washy society in a wishy-washy world.  The Chicago mayoral election ads that keep popping up remind me of how indecisive we are.  Just what exactly do the words spoken by candidates mean? Are the really going to carry through with the promises they are making?

Politians are not alone in this.  The contractor says they’ll be there on Friday but on Thursday night leaves voicemail saying they can’t make it and requesting I be in touch to reschedule.  The package is promised to be delivered by Wednesday and doesn’t arrive until Saturday.  We have an appointment to meet a friend for coffee and they don’t show up.  Or, my personal pet peeve, someone says they’ll complete a specific task and it never gets done.

But scripture tells us that we are the “Yes” children of God.

Do I make my plans according to ordinary human standards, ready to say "Yes, yes" and "No, no" at the same time? As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been "Yes and No." For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not "Yes and No"; but in him it is always "Yes." - 2 Corinthians 1:17b-19
Paul reminds us that in Christ, our word is always yes.  As surely as God is faithful, so will we be faithful in our word.

As the season changes from Epiphany to Lent, rather than saying “no” to something, I challenge you to say Yes. I challenge each member of this community of faith to say 

  • “Yes” to a new experience,
  • “Yes” to the opportunity to help another, 
  • “Yes” to someone asking for help, 
  • “Yes” to that project that seems impractical, 
  • “Yes” to the work trip, 
  • “Yes” to the chance to serve others.  


We are the “yes” people of God; we are called to say “yes” to the hope for tomorrow, “yes” to the possibilities for grace and extravagant welcome, and “yes” to forgotten and the outcast. 

You and I are “Yes” people.  Let your yes be always yes.  

Yes is my response to God's invitation.  Let yes be yours.

Blessings,
Carly