Seeds Day 3 Will You Say Yes?

Acts 2:42-47
Acts 4:32-37
Ezekiel 11:19-20
Matthew 5:14-16

Seeds, Day 3

The autumn sky was pitch dark outside my window, but I read my Bible by the light of the lamp as I sipped my coffee. As I turned the page, a question nudged my spirit.

Will you say yes?

I set my coffee cup down on the table beside me. “Yes to what?” I wondered aloud. “What are You asking me to do?” I waited, listening intently, but my question was met with silence so I turned my attention back to the Scriptures I had been reading. My children began to stir, and soon my once quiet time was peppered with squeals and laughter as our morning began with gusto.

A few days passed, but in the middle of the mundane, His quiet question pressed into my spirit again.

Will you say yes?

I took a breath. So this is going to be one of THOSE kinds of conversations, huh? I thought. Okay, I’ll bite. “I don’t understand, Father,” I responded. “I don’t know what You’re asking. How can I give you an answer when I don’t even know what You’re asking me to do?”

Silence again. Go figure, I thought ruefully.

Another week or so went by before He pressed again, as I scrubbed pots and pans in my kitchen sink.

Will you say yes?

Conviction split through my spirit as understanding washed over me. He wasn’t asking me to do something in that very moment. He was asking if I would be obedient when He called on me.

Tears filled my eyes and repentance flooded my heart. Yes, Father. Of course, I will. Forgive me for putting my desire for knowledge and control above your authority. Yes. I will say yes, whatever it is You ask of me.

Have you ever been there, friend? Faced with the realization that your devotion to God was not as deep or all-encompassing as you had thought? Me too.

I think part of the issue is that we don’t understand what it means to really be devoted to something or someone. A quick Google search tells us the word devote is defined as giving all or a large portion of one’s time or resources to something.

Acts 2 tells us the early believers were devoted to four things:

• the Apostles’ teaching (what we now know as Scripture)
• to fellowship
• to the breaking of bread
• to prayer

Can we say the same, Loves?

If we are forced to take a hard look at our lives and where we consistently choose to invest our most valuable resources, can we truthfully say we give all or a large portion of our time or resources to studying the Word? To fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ? To eating meals together in our homes – with others who are not a part of our nuclear family? To prayer?

Or are we devoted to:

• our favorite TV show?
• our social media?
• our relationships?
• our career?
• our self?

Will you receive a little more truth in grace from me today, friend? Do you think maybe one of the reasons the church in America is not seeing the exponential growth we see happening in other countries is because we don’t have our priorities and life rhythms in the right place?

What do you think it would it look like if we made a shift, right now, today?

What would it look like if instead of carving out fifteen minutes during our morning routine, we suddenly, passionately craved studying the Word day and night?
What would happen if we didn’t naturally have that desire, but we prayed and asked God to cultivate it in us?

What would it look like if we began to spend the majority of our time investing in the relationships of our families, yes, but also our other brothers and sisters in Christ? What if we began to open our homes and schedules, and began to pour into those who’ve been adopted into God’s family with us?

What would it look like if we began to share our meals and tables and hearts with others? If we began to organically introduce others to Christ, not through posts on social media or t-shirts with faith-filled sayings, but through the way we actually live and love as representatives of Christ on earth?

What would it look like if we became a people devoted to prayer, to dialoguing with the Trinity without ceasing?

Do you feel that, Love? If you have a personal relationship with Christ, that stirring is the Holy Spirit inside of you. As daughters of God and followers of Jesus, we were made to live this way. Anything less is not His best for us or those around us, and His Spirit within us cries out for more.

If you don’t yet have a personal relationship with Christ, that stirring is from Jesus, calling you to Himself. He longs to fill you and soothe your ragged edges. To replace your world-weariness with peace and your life with purpose. To replace your isolation with belonging.

He’s asking every one of us a question today, Loves. What will you say?

Father, we love You and praise you. Thank you for loving us enough to correct us. Thank You for providing a way for us to be with You always. Foster in us a hunger for Your Word, for time spent in Your presence, for fellowship with other believers. Show us when we are feeding habits that do not align with Your heart for us, and help us to recognize ways we can shift our lifestyles to model those who first followed You. We need a change in our country, in our world. We know that you are the only One Who can bring restoration and healing, and we are all in. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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