| Matthew 5:37 – “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” |
Many desire to become more like God.
To pursue such an admirable goal, recommended steps typically include deeper study of His word, more intentional time in prayer, a greater commitment to service, sacrifice, generosity, and various spiritual disciplines.
There’s undoubtedly no better way to live one’s life.
But it’s possible to miss the forest for the trees. If we make it too complicated, it can feel overwhelming, if not impossible.
To become more like God, there’s a more streamlined approach and starting place. It’s not always easy, and it’s certainly not exhaustive, but it’s simple. It can be done by anyone at anytime.
Always keep your word.
When you do what you said you would do, you become more like God. You live in His likeness and reflect His character.
The writer of Hebrews said that it is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6: 18). Not improbable or imprudent—impossible. God literally cannot go against His word.
The apostle John penned that the Word (Jesus) took on human flesh and made His dwelling among us (John 1: 14). The incarnation fulfilled a millennia long promise. When sin polluted Eden’s paradise, God said that someone, someday, would make things right (Genesis 3: 15). From the stable of Bethlehem to the cross of Calvary, Christ Jesus honored a divine contract with humanity.
This is also why Jesus adamantly proclaimed in His magnificent Sermon on the Mount, “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” (Matthew 5: 37, NIV)
Said in another way…
• If you make a vow, fulfill it
• If you offer a gift, give it
• If you sign a contract, honor it
• If you form a partnership, defend it
Do what you said you were going to do. It may not always be savvy, but it’s godly.
Becoming more like God is a lifelong pursuit, but when you keep your word, you mirror Christ, the way, the truth, and the life (John 14: 6).
- Jacob Hawk
