The Greatest Oxymoron Known to Man
Yes.
Pause, say this word aloud.
I know it’s a silly request, but go ahead, say the word.
“Yes.”
Now, add two more words.
“Yes, I will.”
Okay, we are doing so well, so let’s add a fourth word.
“Yes, I will do.”
Now, let us add the MOST IMPORTANT word of all.
“Yes, LORD, I will.”
“Yes, LORD, I will do ________________.”
What comes next does not ever matter because we will never be commissioned to—Accomplish anything the LORD asks us to “accomplish” in our own power.
That’s right.
That’s accurate.
The LORD equips us to “do” whatever He calls us to do.
That’s right.
Go back, yes, take a moment, and think about the many opportunities the Holy Spirit of God has stirred our being to “say,” to “do,” or to “go.” Let us pause and consider these actions.
- To speak to a person who does not know Jesus as Savior.
- To dig deep into our wallet & to give more than we think we can give.
- To go somewhere we are afraid to go.
- To take a role that will pull us way out of our comfort zone.
- To lead someone (who asks us questions about God) through the Scriptures.
- To lead someone through the plan of salvation who we ask: Would you like to know, REALLY KNOW Jesus today?
- To “DO,” to “SAY,” to “GO,” to “ACCOMPLISH” the “WHATEVER GOD GIVES US.”
May we realize the truth—the hunger and thirst for the righteousness fills the inner being of mankind.
THAT’S RIGHT.
THAT’S ACCURATE.
THAT’S A TRUTH.
YES.
GOD DESIRES INTIMACY WITH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF HIS CREATION!
See with me the Word of God.
“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”
(Isaiah 55: 11)
It is the Word of God which we have been given to speak.
It is the Will of God which we have been given to do.
It is the Way of the Father which we have been given to go.
It is the Purpose of Almighty God which we have been given to accomplish.
Who are we to ever stand in defiance and exclaim from within our mind—”NO, LORD!”
Who are we to ever kneel in defiance and whisper from inside our fear—“no, please, not this, LORD.”
Who are we to ever stand in defiance and say from the deepest part of our being—“No, LORD, I cannot _______________.”
Who are we?
“For My thoughts [God’s thoughts] are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways, [God’s ways]” declares the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways [God’s ways] higher than your ways
And My thoughts [God’s thoughts] than your thoughts.”
(Isaiah 55: 8-9)
- WHO IS OUR LORD?
- WHO IS THE LORD OF US?
- WHO?
- WHO IS THE ONE WHO HAS GIVEN TO US HIS ONLY SON?
- WHO IS GOD THAT HE WOULD LOVE US SO MUCH THAT HE WOULD SEND HIS SON TO DIE?
- WHO IS GOD THAT HE WOULD TURN HIS BACK UPON HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON SO HE (JESUS CHRIST) COULD TAKE UPON HIMSELF OUR SINS—YES, ALL SINS—YES, EVERY SINGLE SIN EVER COMMITTED?
- WHO IS GOD THAT HE WOULD LOVE US THAT MUCH?
- WHO IS GOD THAT HE WOULD ALLOW HIS SON TO DIE, TO BE BURIED, TO REMAIN WITHIN HIS TOMB FOR 3 DAYS, AND TO BE RESURRECTED TO NEW LIFE?!!!
- YES, WHO IS GOD?
- YES, WHO IS THIS GOD WHO WE HAVE GIVEN OUR HEART TO?
- YES, TRULY, IS THIS GOD—REALLY OUR LORD?
I know, that’s a question each child of God can quickly say, “Our Lord is Jesus Christ,” but—IS JESUS CHRIST really our LORD?
Do our actions reveal that HE IS (what our voice says HE IS)?
Do our thoughts reveal that HE IS?
Do our words reveal that HE IS?
- HE IS!
- GOD IS GOD OF ALL CREATION!
- GOD IS LORD OF ALL!
- MAY WE BEGIN TO ACT & TO LIVE AS WE SHOULD.
- MAY WE BEGIN TO SAY, TO DO, & TO GO AS WE SHOULD.
- TODAY, MAY WE, WHO CALL HIM “LORD” REALLY ACT LIKE HE REALLY IS—LORD OF OUR LIVES.
- TODAY, MAY WE, WHO CALL OURSELVES ‘CHRISTIANS’ REALLY ACT LIKE WE ARE EXACTLY THAT—CHRIST FOLLOWERS.
- TODAY, MAY WE!
Today, I am confronted with the greatest oxymoron known to mankind. Here it is—NO, LORD!
- NO, LORD!—Don’t ask me to speak to a person who does not know Jesus as Savior.
- NO, LORD!—Don’t ask me to dig deep into my wallet & to give more than I think I can give.
- NO, LORD!—Don’t ask me to go somewhere I am afraid to go.
- NO, LORD!—Don’t ask me to take a role that will pull me way out of my comfort zone.
- NO, LORD!—Don’t ask me to lead someone (who asks questions) through the Scriptures.
- NO, LORD!—Don’t ask me to lead someone through the plan of salvation.
- NO, LORD!—Don’t ask me to “DO,” to “SAY,” to “GO,” to accomplish the “WHATEVER GOD KNOWS I SHOULD DO, SAY, OR GO—TO DO.
I am so reminded this day of this question: Who am I to ask God—“Are You sure, God, that someone else couldn’t DO, SAY, or GO—Better?”
I am also reminded this day of this answer: “YES, LORD.”
I am also reminded this day of the place where Jesus meets us: Within His Word & Down On Our Knees.
“Yes, LORD, I will speak to the person who wants to know, REALLY KNOW Jesus today.”
“Yes, LORD, I will dig deep into my wallet & to give more than I think I can give.”
“Yes, LORD, I will go somewhere I am afraid to go.”
“Yes, LORD, I will take a role that will pull me way out of my comfort zone.”
“Yes, LORD, I will lead someone (who asks questions) through the Scriptures to SEE YOU.”
“Yes, LORD, I will lead someone through the plan of salvation—to come to KNOW YOU!”
“Yes, LORD, I will do everything YOU give me to DO.”
“Yes, LORD, I will say whatever You give me to SAY.”
“Yes, LORD, I will go wherever You send me to GO.”
“Yes, LORD, I will be led by Your Holy Spirit.”
“Let us not lose heart in doing good, [in doing God’s good] for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
So then, while we have the opportunity, let us do good [doing God’s good] to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”
(Galatians 6: 9-10)