I love to learn new things. I love to increase my knowledge. However, I don't like to be wrong. And sometimes learning something new means that you will find out you've been wrong. It's a risk I'm willing to take. There's something about opening God's word that almost makes me hold my breath in anticipation! What will He say? Or more importantly to my walk, What will I say?? Invariably, God speaks to me and I have a choice to make....
John, the Baptist, said "Yes." He seemed to be strange....strange choice of home, strange clothes, strange diet, strange hair.....he even had a strange message. John's message: "Repent! For the kingdom of God is at hand!" He told the people that God could raise sons of Abraham from stones. He told them that he baptizes with water but One is coming Who will baptize with Holy Spirit and Fire. He baptized many, many people and even had disciples. Jesus, Himself, said of John, "Among those born of women, there has not arisen one greater." Wow! John must have been some kind of man! What did it get him?
Are you willing to be strange for Him?
To those who say "Yes" to Him, He gives rest. Jesus rebuked the cities where His word was proclaimed yet they did not repent, and follows it with a reminder that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. I have often felt burdened and worn down. It was during these times that I realized the burdens I had were not of God....they were heavy and hard. Sometimes we have to reevaluate life and our commitments. He gives us strength for the things we are called to do, His yoke, His burden. Only Jesus can give true rest.
To others who say "Yes" to Him, He gives sight and speech. They receive peace, rather than troubling spirits who torment them day and night. Jesus said that a tree is known by it's fruit. He says that we are not to judge, but that we can know the truth. What is the truth of the fruit you produce, today? What about your speech? "For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of" and we will all give account. Jesus also said that His nearest relations are His disciples. These are His family, more than His own flesh and blood?? Yes. Those who are born again are born into His family. We have a whole new bloodline when we accept Him. Jesus gives new sight and new speech to all who follow Him.
Those who say, "Yes" to Him receive a blessing of measure untold. Those who ask for signs to confirm their faith are given miracles, because they believe. The Pharisees didn't believe, they asked for signs of power from a heart of pride. They criticized from unscriptural rules for "working on the Sabbath", to bring condemnation and death. Christ brings the opposite, approval and life. Jesus saw right through their questions. To say "Yes" to Him means that I may be criticized for decisions I make, or roads I choose, but those are temporal. The blessing of following Him is measureless.
What blessings we receive when we say "Yes" to our God. As strange as it seems to say "Yes" to Him.....I'm scared to death to say "No." I don't want to miss a moment with Him!
