Yes and AmenChikamu

Day Five: The Big Promises of God

Throughout Zechariah, we see that God made big promises to his people. Later in Scripture, Paul talks about God’s faithfulness in keeping his promises.

In 2 Corinthians 1, Paul told the church of Corinth when he would visit them, but he had a change in travel plans. The Corinthians questioned Paul's integrity because he changed his plan (v. 17). Paul explained that he had a good, God-ordained reason for the change. This seems like a petty thing for the people to get worked up about. But in Corinth, in the story of Zerubbabel and even today, churches and Christians get distracted by relatively simple things. Those arguments, disagreements, misunderstandings and assumptions keep us from completing the task God has called us to — like sharing the Gospel message with others. We turn things that are meant to stay small into big obstacles.

Paul shows the people how their doubts in his integrity were actually doubts about God’s faithfulness and were keeping them from participating in the big things of God. In 2 Corinthians 1:18-19, Paul reminds them that he never vacillated between yes and no, and he tells them that God doesn’t vacillate either.

How much time do we waste wondering if God will keep his promises? Questioning if God can be trusted? Paul addresses those questions: For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God (2 Corinthians 1:20).

In this verse, Amen is a transliteration of a Hebrew word that means “surely.” We are commanded to speak the glory of God and tell the world that God will surely do all that he has promised. Paul tells us that God is faithful and keeps every single promise through Jesus. He says YES to us. God said YES to us when he sent Jesus into the world, and he says YES through his grace and mercy over and over and over.

We tell the world of God’s YES to us and encourage them to say YES to God.

It’s amazing how one little word can change your life. For those of us who have said YES to God, what would it be like if we kept saying YES to the things God has placed in front of us? YES to parenting on purpose. YES to significant challenges and out-of-your-comfort-zone opportunities. YES to your marriage. YES to invitations to connect with others. YES to opportunities to tell others how Jesus says YES to us?

Saying YES opens us up to new ways of thinking and helps cultivate a growth mindset. We aren’t talking about people-pleasing or over-extending ourselves. In fact, it’s the opposite. Developing a YES mindset is living intentionally, focusing on our goals for ourselves and our families.

Saying YES means listening to God’s voice and finding joy in doing the brave things rather than the easy things. (James 1:2-4)

Saying YES means we embrace the truth that God delights in us and, through his grace, brings us into a place of safety and freedom.(Psalm 18:19)

Saying YES means we understand our value to God, set aside worry and trust in God’s care for us. (Matthew 6:26-27)

These are promises of God to us, and he is faithful to keep his promises.

This is the year that your YES is where it all begins. Say YES to God. YES to starting small and thinking big. YES to passion. YES to this moment, these people, this life.

Today’s Lessons for Us:

1. Have you said YES to God? Have you accepted the grace-filled gift of life and salvation that God is offering you?
2. Who are you encouraging to say YES to God? (Family, friends, neighbors, co-workers?)
3. What are you going to do today because of what God has shown you?

Consider making this part of your plan:

Pray for the big, long for the big and work for the big — all while faithfully and contentedly devoting yourselves to what is in front of you. (Zechariah 4:10)