The Gift of Yes

Many of life’s greatest experiences come as a result of someone saying “yes.” It is a blessing when someone says “yes” when you propose, or the doctor says “yes” you are pregnant. Other times you get to say yes to a job offer or special invitation. The best yesses are responses to God. Whether He is leading us to accept Christ in faith or calling us to move our lives for His mission, it is always a gift to God’s work in our lives as we give Him our “yes.”

We must give God our “yes” in order to experience His movement. We will not receive His blessings if we are not obedient to His calling. This was true for Samuel when God first gave him a prophetic message. Eli’s family had disobeyed God as priests, so the responsibility to lead Israel well was about to be given to Samuel. God called out to him in 1 Samuel 3, and it was his responsibility to proclaim the message he heard.

¹ Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. ² At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. ³ The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. ⁴ Then the LORD called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” ⁵ and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. ⁶ And the LORD called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” ⁷ Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. ⁸ And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. ⁹ Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. ¹⁰ And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” ¹¹ Then the LORD said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. ¹² On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. ¹³ And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. ¹⁴ Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.” ¹⁵ Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. ¹⁶ But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am.” ¹⁷ And Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.” ¹⁸ So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the LORD. Let him do what seems good to him.” ¹⁹ And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. ²⁰ And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the LORD. ²¹ And the LORD appeared again at Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD. – 1 Samuel 3

1. “Yes” is ageless

God called Samuel as a young boy and raised him up into an established prophet. God’s work is not dependent on our age, so neither is our obligation to be obedient. Regardless of how old you are, God can and will use you for His kingdom if you will say yes.

2. “Yes” requires submission

When Eli realizes that it is God calling Samuel, he tells him to respond as a listening servant. Samuel does not wait for the instruction to see if he will respond obediently. We must be committed to obeying God as Lord, regardless of the instruction He gives.

3. “Yes” is an invitation for more

God used each stage of Samuel’s life as preparation for the next. From serving in the temple, to hearing God’s voice, to becoming a well known prophet, God was bringing about His full plan. Likewise for us, our obedience to God today will help prepare us for what God has in store later on in our lives.

4. “Yes” is difficult

God gives Samuel an incredibly difficult message to deliver to Eli, but Eli insists that Samuel share it faithfully. Obedience to God can often be difficult or scary, but that can not stop us. God will strengthen us to follow through and our obedience will always be worth it.

The book of Samuel is named after someone who was committed to obeying God, no matter the circumstances. What might our lives look like if we constantly gave God the gift of our “yes?”

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