“The oldest, shortest words – ‘yes’ and ‘no’ – are those which require the most thought.” ~ Pythagoras
When it comes to the subject of love, we get to choose yes or no. We get to decide if we will receive it, and we get to determine if we will give it. We all have say-so when it comes to love. Tina Turner sang, “What’s love go to do with it?” God responded with, “EVERYTHING!”
This afternoon on May 1, 2021, two amazing people will have the opportunity to exchange vows with each other in the presence of God, family, friends, and each other. In a beautiful setting located in the Catskills mountains, Steven and Anna join together as husband and wife and become one. Together they will commence heart to heart as they trudge the road of happily ever after. Today they will have a chance to say “yes to love.”
Love is a verb; it’s not an emotion. Yes, emotion is often attached to the act of love, but not permanently. Because of twisted perceptions and extreme self-centeredness, we fall prey to the delusion that if there is no emotion attached, we must no longer be in love, so our journey together must be over. We fail to understand or accept that love requires action on our part. When we do anything for anyone and don’t have love, we are nothing more than a clanging cymbal¹.
It takes two to say “yes” to a relationship, and the “best news ever” is that God said “yes” to a relationship with each of us while we were still in the womb. God created humankind with the capacity to love as God loves, but to love as God love, we must first have God dwelling inside our hearts. To have God taking up residence in our soul, we must first “yes.”
Have you said “yes” to a relationship with the Creator of the universe? If the answer is no, then today is the day to say “yes.” You can say “yes” to God by praying the prayer at the end of this devotion in the privacy of your own heart. Any capacity you have to love is a gift from God; even if you claim to be agnostic or atheist, the love you express is because of God, not because you have chosen to be a wonderful person. Yes, even the ability to say “yes” to God and “yes” to love is an expression of the grace of God.
God is love, and love is the full expression and revelation of God. When asked which is the greatest commandment to keep, Jesus replied with, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You must love your neighbor as you love yourself.² Our commission as agents of God is to love God, love others, and transform the world.
When we say “yes” to God, we are saying “yes” to love. Love is a verb, not an emotion, do not be deceived with the lack of emotion during the inevitable trials and low spots we will all experience when providing love and service for others. We merely suit up and show up every day with the people God has put in our lives and love them just as they are, and for who they are, they are God’s kids.
God of Love, thank You for saying “yes” to a relationship with me. Today I desire to “yes” to You and our affinity for life. Thank You for first loving me, despite my imperfections. Please forgive me for my selfishness and come live in my heart. Today I turn my will and life over to You. Please remove from me the hurts, habits, and hang-ups that steal my desire and capacity to love You and others in the same way You love me and all of creation. In Your Spirit and Name, I pray these things. May Your will not mine always materialize, now and forever. Amen.
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