Saying Yes to Jesus' No
Key Thought | Saying “yes” to Jesus often means surrendering the things that compete for our hearts, but His “no” is always a redirection toward something greater.
Key Scripture | “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me.’” – Matthew 16:24
In Matthew 16, Jesus makes a bold and uncompromising call: to follow Him means to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and walk in His footsteps. This is not a casual invitation. It is a consecration, a setting apart for His divine purpose. To say “yes” to Jesus often requires saying “no” to the things that compete for our attention and affections.
I’ve heard people say, “I want to hear the Holy Spirit speak, but I’m afraid of what He might say.” The fear is real, and this hesitation reveals the tension between our will and His. Yet Jesus reminds us that the cost of clinging to the world is far greater than the cost of surrender: “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Matthew 16:26)
As I reflect on my own walk with the Lord, there have been many times when Jesus has spoken “no” to certain paths I was on or decisions I needed to make. I had to recognize that Jesus’s “no” was not punishment or rejection. Although challenging at times, it was His loving redirection for my life.
Consecration is not about loss or isolation. It is about coming into alignment with His will. When Jesus says “no” to something in our lives, it is always because He is saying “yes” to something greater: His presence, His purpose, His eternal kingdom. Saying “yes” to Jesus’s “no” is an act of trust, believing that His plans are higher than ours and His love is deeper than our fears.
Remember:
Reflection | Where is Jesus currently saying “no” in my life, and how might that “no” actually be His loving redirection toward something greater? What desire, habit, or attachment do I need to surrender so I can fully say “yes” to Jesus’s will instead of clinging to my own?
Key Scripture | “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me.’” – Matthew 16:24
In Matthew 16, Jesus makes a bold and uncompromising call: to follow Him means to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and walk in His footsteps. This is not a casual invitation. It is a consecration, a setting apart for His divine purpose. To say “yes” to Jesus often requires saying “no” to the things that compete for our attention and affections.
I’ve heard people say, “I want to hear the Holy Spirit speak, but I’m afraid of what He might say.” The fear is real, and this hesitation reveals the tension between our will and His. Yet Jesus reminds us that the cost of clinging to the world is far greater than the cost of surrender: “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Matthew 16:26)
As I reflect on my own walk with the Lord, there have been many times when Jesus has spoken “no” to certain paths I was on or decisions I needed to make. I had to recognize that Jesus’s “no” was not punishment or rejection. Although challenging at times, it was His loving redirection for my life.
Consecration is not about loss or isolation. It is about coming into alignment with His will. When Jesus says “no” to something in our lives, it is always because He is saying “yes” to something greater: His presence, His purpose, His eternal kingdom. Saying “yes” to Jesus’s “no” is an act of trust, believing that His plans are higher than ours and His love is deeper than our fears.
Remember:
- Jesus’s “no” is never rejection. It is redirection.
- The Holy Spirit’s voice may challenge us, but it always leads us closer to Christ.
- To be consecrated means to be set apart not for isolation, but for intimacy with Jesus and usefulness in His kingdom.
- Examine Your Attachments | Ask the Lord to reveal areas where you are clinging to the world more than to Him.
- Practice Surrender | Each day, lay one desire before Jesus and invite Him to shape it according to His will.
- Listen Without Fear | Instead of fearing what the Holy Spirit might say, ask Him for courage to obey.
- Declare Your Yes | Speak aloud, “Jesus, I say yes to Your will, even when it comes in the form of ‘no,’ because I trust Your greater yes.”
Reflection | Where is Jesus currently saying “no” in my life, and how might that “no” actually be His loving redirection toward something greater? What desire, habit, or attachment do I need to surrender so I can fully say “yes” to Jesus’s will instead of clinging to my own?
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