Focus: No! (Pt.2)

Text: Mk.15:23

"And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not."

Christ said 'no' to a wine that was capable of minimizing His redemptive pain. Opportunity presented itself for Him to help Himself out, but He rejected it. Matthew tells us that "they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink" (Mt.27:34). 

Mark that phrase, "He WOULD NOT drink." It was a decision. He made up His mind that He was not going to drink it. He tasted it and knew it was the wrong kind of drink for Him, especially at that point in time. Remember that He did not say 'no' to vinegar when it was offered to Him. John says, "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost" (Jh.19:30). John was in agreement with Matthew (Mt.27:34,48). But when it came to mixed drink, designed for deadening pain, He said 'no' to it. That speaks volume of His character and determination. He refused to ruin His redemptive sacrifice on the cross with an avoidable act of escapism.

The Scripture says of Him, "Thou hast LOVED righteousness, and HATED iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows" (Heb.1:9).

Christ loved righteousness and hated iniquity. You cannot do one without the other, and to love righteousness means saying 'yes' to it, and to hate iniquity means saying 'no' to it.

Christ says to you today:

Say no to Satan.

Say no to wickedness.

Say no to evil.

Say no to 'darling' sins.

Say no to laziness.

Say no to aimless living.

Say no to low living.

Say no to loose living.

Say no to mediocrity.

Say no to nonsense.

Say no to foolishness.

Say no to empty fascination.

Say no to littleness.

Say no to failure.

Say no to the flesh.

Say no to selfishness.

Say no to fear and doubt.

Say no to error and ignorance.

In the same vein:

Say yes to God.

Say yes to righteousness.

Say yes to God's word - to His truths.

Say yes to godliness.

Say yes to goodness.

Say yes to divine love.

Let people know where you stand and what you stand on. Be a person of conviction and character. Shun the bad and welcome the good.

Paulo Coelho said, "When you say 'yes' to others, make sure you're not saying 'no' to yourself." Another has also said, "May we not waver to say a blunt "No" when push comes to shove. Once we handle the truth, it must be without "ifs" and "buts.""

Summon the divine courage to say 'no' when and where you should say it - even at a great price. By saying 'yes' to God, you will have the ability, the audacity, and the discernment to say 'no' to all the false gods of this world. Develop the guts to say 'no', and stand your ground.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter