THE POWER OF ONE WORD

Saturday morning, while relaxing and listening to bluegrass on Pandora radio, I remembered that I had committed to pray for a brother who was going to a conference. It doesn't matter what it was about, but I know that Jesus was one of the themes, So I turned to Colossians 1 and started reading about the supremacy of Jesus--then I stopped short.

He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness. Well, that's where I was 40 years ago, but now I am not. What made the difference? One word--the word "yes." I had been invited to a church service and, over time, heard enough about hell to know that, if it was real, I didn't want to go there. It took me six weeks to work up the courage to "walk the aisle" to make my confession of faith (what did I really know back then) and be immersed.

What is scary is that I could have just as easily said "no." And where would I be? How would my life be different? Of course, there's no way of knowing. But saying "yes" led me in a direction that I never would have imagined.

Although still in the painting trade--about the only constant from my pre-conversion days--I have graduated Bible college and had two years of seminary, gotten married and had three kids (and now 2+ grandchildren), been in various ministries, served in different capacities within the churches. It all began with that word "yes."

When you have the opportunity to commit to God through Jesus, or an opportunity to risk serving him, do it! Don't say "no." Even if the latter turns out disastrously, God can still redeem it, and you will learn AND be the stronger for it.