Yes in Christ

2 Corinthians 1:12-24

"For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are YES...Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge...for in your faith you are standing firm" (vs 20a,21,24b).

The Apostle Paul is letting the Corinthian believers know, he is reassuring them (even as he is, us) that unlike people - you and me - God does not waiver. God's yes, is yes. In Christ, we can count on the Lord to fulfill His promises - His promises to us who believe, to us who belong to Him through Christ. Whether is it the promise of Salvation (He fills us with His Spirit when we are born-again; His pledge of the promise that we will spend now and eternity with God), or the many promises seen in Scripture.

God's promises are true. We don't have to wonder, "well, I know God said He would 'provide for all of my needs according to His riches in glory, in Christ Jesus'...but will He really make a way for my provision of need?" Check out Philippians 4:19 for this promise.

Another promise, "We know that God hears our prayer, and if He hears our prayer, He answers our prayer" (1 John 5:14-15)....sometimes we don't believe this promise, because God doesn't answer according to what we think should be the answer....His answer is according to what is best...and our Father does know best... .

Challenge: look through Scripture - Old and New Testaments - and see how many of God's promises you can find. They are all true. One note. Be sure you understand who God is speaking to (believers or non-believers) as well as exactly what is being said. The context of God's promises (all of Scripture) is important - many times we don't think God keeps His promise(s) because we have not understood what is being said. One misinterpretation - or just plain taking it out of context - is this "all things happen for a reason." Many times people say this as an explanation for trials and heartache. They go on to think that "it was meant to be."

Well, actually, we will not find in Scripture either of these two statements. We do find Romans 8:28 - which states that God works all things out for the good, for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. This is not saying, "all things happen for a reason, or it was meant to be." It is saying that God takes all things that do happen and brings good from them, for - not all people - but for people who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Do you love God? Are you called? How are you responding?

"Lord, thank You for Loving us. Thank You that all Your promises are Yes/Amen, are true. Thank You that You are not a man that You should lie, but that You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Thank You that we can count on You. Lord, please increase my faith. Lord, please increase our faith. Thank You Lord. Let my yes be yes and my no be no. Let our yes be yes and our n o be no."