What's the Question?

I recently heard a story… probably a preacher’s story, (a story that is not true but told as a parable to illustrate a certain point) which spoke to me about obedience.

The story goes like this: A pastor had a man come up to him after one of the worship services to shake his hand and said: “Pastor… my answer is YES. Now what’s the question?”

This confused the pastor a bit… but didn’t want to be rude or look stupid to this man… so he just humored him by smiling and saying the obligatory ‘God Bless You.’

This same scenario played out about four weeks in a row. The man continually came up to the pastor and said: “Pastor, my answer is YES. Now what’s the question?” Each week, the confused pastor would smile and nod and really just tried to ignore what the man was saying.

But after awhile, the pastor’s curiosity got the best of him and the next week, after this man said ‘Pastor, my answer is YES. Now what’s the question?’ The pastor finally asked the man what that he meant and what he was trying to say.

The man answered by saying: “Pastor, Jesus died that I might be forgiven for my sins. He delivered me from all kinds of terrible things. He paid the highest price for my freedom… Because of that my answer to you will always be YES! I just need to know the question. If you asked me to help rock the babies to sleep in the nursery… I’d say yes. If you told me that I needed to clean the toilets in the church… I’d say yes. Whatever the need… just ask and I’ll say yes…

When I heard that story… I got thinking about how willing I am to say ‘yes’ to God. Do I have this attitude in my life? Am I in a place in my life where God knows that all He has to do is ask the question and I’ll automatically say yes?

Unfortunately… the answer is no. My answer to God is not always consistently ‘yes.’ Sometimes I say ‘no.’ Sometimes I act like I didn’t hear the question. Sometimes I try to change the subject.

Even the times I say ‘yes’ are not my finest moments. It certainly isn’t always automatic. Sometimes I wrestle with my ‘yes’. Sometimes I place conditions on my ‘yes’. Sometimes I try to bargain with my ‘yes.’ (Ex: God if I do this, I need You to do something for me…) Sometimes my ‘yes’ is more like a ‘no’ because I have a spiteful attitude. (Ex: ‘I’ll do it, but You can’t make me LIKE it!’) Those of you who have kids understand that one…

I really want to get to a place in my life where my answer to God is ‘yes’ regardless of the question… regardless of the job, regardless of the person He wants me to help. I want to automatically and joyfully say yes to His will for my life.

Lord, my answer is YES! Now what’s the question?

Merry Christmas!

This was a postcard I received in the mail promoting Cardinal ticket sales... very cool!

My Favorite 10...

CHRISTMAS MOVIES:

10. Christmas with the Kranks

9. Rudolph

8. Frosty

7. Grinch (Cartoon)

6. Scrooged

5. Disney’s A Christmas Carol

4. Polar Express

3. Grinch (Jim Carrey’s)

2. Charlie Brown Christmas

1. Christmas Vacation

Keep in mind that I haven’t seen A Christmas Story, It’s Wonderful Life, and White Christmas all the way through yet. Just never took the time. Maybe this year, we’ll see. I love Miracle on 34th Street… but it’s been so long since I’ve seen it, I feel like I need to watch it again before I put it on the list. The new movie, Deck the Halls, looks kind of funny. Christmas with the Kranks is only on the list because of sentimental value. It was a John Grisham book before it was a movie. Melissa and I spent one Christmas season reading the book to each other before going to bed each night. Good times. Good movies.