3-1-2022

 Good Morning All,

        2 Corinthians 1:20; “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”

     I think, for many of us, the most exciting word is “yes”! This word is so full of potential and so full of promise. It brings about such joy and happiness. It lifts the spirit and gives a spring to our step and a zest to our existence. Think back to that special item you wanted. Mom and dad were a little worried if you were old enough to have. Way back when it might have been a chemistry set or maybe a BB gun. Remember the joy when mam and dad said, “yes, you can have it.” Think back to your dating years. You would agonize over calling; what if they say no? Do you remember the relief and excitement when they said, “Yes, I would love to go!” Do you remember later when the marriage proposal was there, would I get asked, would they accept? The thrill of hearing “yes” sent you into ecstasy.

    When you applied for your job or tried to rent or buy some land, being told “yes” gave you a lift and a joy. Maybe even more to the point, remember when you looked at the doctor questioning and he said, “Yes, she will be fine in a couple of days.”  You breathed a sigh of relief and the world suddenly looked brighter.  We love being told “yes.”

    When I was in high school, one of my favorite Christian songs was titled, “And God said YES.” It sang of God saying “yes, with a cosmic roar” that God was shouting from the mountain top that the reign of sin, death and the devil was ended and that his people should return home toa feast that never ends! It spoke of God saying ‘yes’ to his people whom he had redeemed and saved from the reign of sin. This is what our verse today tells us; God says “yes” to you and to me.

    You and I were nothing more that lost people with no hope, no future and with nothing to offer anyone else. Yet in the depth of our despair, God saw us. He sent His Son Jesus to pay the price that we owe. In doing so, he picked us up, cleaned us off, fed us, gave us new clothes, held us tightly in his arms and said “YES.”  “Yes, I will keep this one as my dear child.”  There is no better way for you and me to hear the word “YES.”

   Yes, you are redeemed. Yes, you are saved. Yes, you are valued by the Father as a dearly loved child of God. Yes, He means this. Yes, he has forgiven all of your sins, even the really, really bad ones.  Yes, He wants you to take comfort and to have hope because God looked at you and said “YES.”  We have all the comfort and hope we can ever need. God, through Jesus, says “YES” to us every day. His love, his grace and his mercy say “Yes” to us each day. No matter how often the world tells you “no;” God’s love is always “YES!!” In His “Yeses” we find all of our good gifts, hope, comfort, peace, eternal life. These are from God to you because God looked down and said, “Yes, this one is mine!”

Dear Father, through Jesus, you tell me “yes.”  I am loved and treasured by you, and I receive your wonderful grace and mercy. You sustain and give me hope. Help me to share this wonderful news with those around us. In Jesus’ precious name we pray. Amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret