No

[0:00] A pastor's reflections. No. Exodus 20, 13-15. Matthew 5, 37.

[0:14] But let your communication be, yes, yes, no, no.! For whatsoever is more than these comes of evil.! 2 Corinthians 1, 20.

[0:26] For all the promises of God in him are yes. And in him, amen. Unto the glory of God by us. It is not easy to be told, no, especially when it is in regards to something we greatly desire or would like to do.

[0:45] The word yes does not usually result in a child throwing a tantrum. But the word no can very often lead to a meltdown. Why do we have such a problem with no?

[0:56] God has created us with the ability to choose and not just to choose, but to choose what we feel is right for each of us individually.

[1:07] Each day we awake to decisions that are ours and ours alone. We choose what we will eat and what we will wear. And for the most part, where we will go and how we will get there.

[1:19] But to choose also means to face the reality that my choices may be in direct conflict with another's choices. In that instance, whose choices win out?

[1:33] And it is in that instance that I run up against the word no. In Exodus 20, verses 13 through 15, God has just fired off a series of no's to the nation of Israel.

[1:46] I can imagine as they are standing there, gathered together to listen, that they are probably asking themselves why God would waste three of his ten commandments and telling them such basic no's.

[1:59] Of course, they won't do such terrible things as murder, adultery, and theft. Yet, how many people have also said the same thing, but in the end, their no became a yes.

[2:12] And they found themselves in the midst of a terrible decision that seemed so obviously a no at one time, but so yes in the moment.

[2:25] God's no's are never meant to take something from us that is right, but to keep us from taking something to ourselves that is so wrong. What may look so right in our eyes in the moment may end up turning out to be a wrong.

[2:42] That we said we would never do. When God puts forth a no, we can be sure it's because we would put forth a yes.

[2:53] Ephesians 4.28 Let him that stole steal no more, but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needs.

[3:06] If we will accept God's no, we will then be free to accept his yes. God desires to keep us from whatever would prevent us from that yes, even if it takes a no.

[3:20] Father, thank you for caring so much for your children that you do not withhold your no when you know it will lead to a yes. Thank you that in Jesus, we have access to all of the yeses of God.

[3:33] Amen.