Learn to say “no”. That seems like such a simple thing to do, and maybe that’s
the problem. Because it seems so easy, we don’t think about it and then when
the test comes, we are not properly prepared. One of the reasons there is so
much sin in the world, children rebelling against their parents, giving in to bad
peer pressure, rejection of God, etc., is because people don’t say no.
What if, every time a temptation came along, you said no? Think about how easy
that sounds right now just sitting here reading this. What if it were that easy
when a “friend” came to you and asked you to do something that you know you’re
parents would not want you to do? Or when God asks you to do something that you
really don’t feel like doing? Or when faced with any decision between doing
what is wrong and doing what is right?
Did you know that it can be as
easy as it seems right now? Impossible, you might say. But every time you say
no, it will be so much easier the next time. Besides, that is what Jesus died
for! He gave His life to set us free from the power of sin. You don’t have to
give in – Jesus has a much better way!
Here’s a little secret – a true Christian can do whatever they want to do! Why?
Because the follower of Jesus Christ only wants to do those things that please
the Lord. They will never want to do anything wrong, so the only things that
they will consider choosing from to do will be things that are right.
So why do we find it so hard to
just say no? Maybe we feel like it will cost us too much. We don’t want to lose
our reputation or the approval of people around us. Or, it could be because we
are afraid of what others will think of us. We don’t want to be different. We
want to be in the “in” group. Sometimes it is because of our pride. Or maybe we
are too lazy, or just don’t care.
But are any of these reasons good
enough to justify not saying no, especially when it is a matter of obedience to
God or your earthly authorities? Will it really be worth it in the end? Think
of the perhaps seemingly insignificant act of saying no. Your little choices
have eternal consequences!
“For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,
knowing this, that our old self was
crucified with Him, in
order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is
freed from sin.
Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also
live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never
to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life
that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin,
but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
~Romans 6:5-11
That little word “no” is a very
important, but often very hard, word to say. It has the ability to save you a
lot of heartache and trouble. Start preparing now. Learn to say no in the
little things, and you will find grace for the big tests. Remember that if you
are a follower of Jesus Christ, He has given you the power to say no!
(I have four writing projects that I’m working on for school, thus
the delay in getting this post written. Besides, I’m a good procrastinator! But
there will be more on that subject later. :)
