Day Fifty-three

“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 Cor. 1:20)

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:12–22

As believers in Christ, let’s ask ourselves a tough question: Do those who know us characterize us most by the things we do not do because of our belief—or by the things we do?

Clearly, what we don’t do is important. The Ten Commandments consist almost entirely of “shalt nots.” Without a doubt, certain “don’ts” must characterize our lives if we are seeking to please God. But are the “don’ts” all that distinguish us as followers of Christ? Does our personal brand of Christianity lend negative connotations?

I believe Christians who are known only by the things they don’t do are helping to lend Christianity a bad name. Consider the office environment. Are we doing our jobs as Christians in a secular workplace if no one there can stand to be around us? If we repel people, perhaps we’ve allowed ourselves to be characterized by all the things we do not do—unknowingly branding ourselves and Christianity with a “no” mentality.

God’s Word tells us that Christ is the “yes” of God! After all the negatives of the Old Testament “Law,” after rivers of sacrifices that could never atone for sin, and after every good intention toward perfection fell miserably short of the glory of God, the Father sent His one and only Son. Through the cross, He said, “Yes!”

So if we’re still characterizing God primarily by His negatives rather than His affirmatives, our “religion” needs an update! Am I suggesting God no longer says, “No”? Not on your life. But I am convinced that even His “noes” are doors He closes along our corridors to lead us to the “yes.”

For example, God says “no” to premarital sex so He can say “yes” to a blessed physical union reserved for husband and wife. He also says “no” to one job or position because He has chosen to say “yes” to one further down the corridor and better suited to His plan. In Christ, God wants to be characterized as a “yes” kind of God. He says “yes” to joy even in difficult circumstances, to wealth even in poverty, to strength even in weakness. You see, when we say “no” to the cravings of our flesh, God says “yes” to the abundant filling of His Spirit.

Likewise, God wants us to be characterized most by the things we do rather than those we don’t. He wants others to see the “yes” of Christ in us—that we are a people of positive action, that we perform our jobs with excellence, enhance a friendly environment, love the unlovely, forgive the transgressor, help the oppressed, lend a listening ear, love an invisible God, and make others want to love Him, too.

Now that’s the kind of Christian that makes others want to say “yes” to Christ. That’s positive. That’s action.