Failure to Yield
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for
you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." - James
1:2-3
Do you remember when we used to have those yellow triangle yield signs at
intersections? Have you seen one lately? Unlikely. The traffic police had
to make them all into four-way stops. Why? Because we stink at yielding.
Each person drives up to the corner and thinks, "Clearly it's my right to
go and clearly he needs to yield." So we have an epidemic of traffic
crashes because no one wants to yield.
More important than a crazy traffic sign, how good are you at yielding to
God? Do you think, "Clearly, my way is better. If I go that way, that will
take my life in a direction that isn't in my plan so I'm going to run the
sign." Ever stop to think, "What if that way signals God’s plan of taking
my life in a different direction?"
Hebrews 12:9 says, "Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of
spirits and live?"
The Greek word for "be subject to" is hupopaso, translated "submission" in
other places in the New Testament. It’s got a special twist in the
original language, which means "submit yourself," as in, you’re the one
who willingly makes this choice.
God wants you to yield to His direction by your own choice, willingly
yielding yourself to God so that "the testing of your faith produces
steadfastness" (James 1:3). Following Christ into unfamiliar territory
binds your heart to Him. Trusting Him in uncertain situations will make
you irreversibly devoted and committed to Jesus Christ.
Submission doesn't come easily in a culture of individuals. But the only
way through is to yield to God. You're headed for a wreck, until you let
Him go first. "This isn't where I thought my life would be today, but I'm
going to yield. I'm stopping, God. You go. I'm going to fall in behind
You." Let God have His way; yield to His purposes for your life.
you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." - James
1:2-3
Do you remember when we used to have those yellow triangle yield signs at
intersections? Have you seen one lately? Unlikely. The traffic police had
to make them all into four-way stops. Why? Because we stink at yielding.
Each person drives up to the corner and thinks, "Clearly it's my right to
go and clearly he needs to yield." So we have an epidemic of traffic
crashes because no one wants to yield.
More important than a crazy traffic sign, how good are you at yielding to
God? Do you think, "Clearly, my way is better. If I go that way, that will
take my life in a direction that isn't in my plan so I'm going to run the
sign." Ever stop to think, "What if that way signals God’s plan of taking
my life in a different direction?"
Hebrews 12:9 says, "Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of
spirits and live?"
The Greek word for "be subject to" is hupopaso, translated "submission" in
other places in the New Testament. It’s got a special twist in the
original language, which means "submit yourself," as in, you’re the one
who willingly makes this choice.
God wants you to yield to His direction by your own choice, willingly
yielding yourself to God so that "the testing of your faith produces
steadfastness" (James 1:3). Following Christ into unfamiliar territory
binds your heart to Him. Trusting Him in uncertain situations will make
you irreversibly devoted and committed to Jesus Christ.
Submission doesn't come easily in a culture of individuals. But the only
way through is to yield to God. You're headed for a wreck, until you let
Him go first. "This isn't where I thought my life would be today, but I'm
going to yield. I'm stopping, God. You go. I'm going to fall in behind
You." Let God have His way; yield to His purposes for your life.
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