Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. (Hebrews 10:24)

When I began writing this blog a few years ago, it was my goal to provide encouragement and edification daily. As some of you have noticed, and commented, my posts haven’t been daily for awhile. As I confessed my inconsistency to the Lord, I heard Him encourage me as Jesus did with Peter in Luke 22:32 (NLT)…But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”

My repentance and return has led to a rebrand of this blog from ‘Daily Blessings’ to ‘Spiritual GEMs’. That means, as/when the LORD leads me, I will write to…

• Glorify God, and
• Edify others, by
• Magnifying His Word

Same messages and format, just a different frequency, just solely tuned into God’s timing.

For example, the Holy Spirit gave me another spiritual GEM this morning regarding sincerity, which is a simple yes or no will do.

Today’s scripture, James 5:12 (NLT) admonishes…But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned.

Consider…
We make promises all the time. Some promises are made with no intention or ability of keeping them, and others are made and not kept despite our sincere intentions. There are no issues with promises, the issue lies in the motivation to make a promise.

For some reason promises engender greater believability than simple a simple yes or no. Thus, we make promises to God, despite Jesus teaching in Matthew 5:33-37 (NLT)…“You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the LORD.’ [34] But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. [35] And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. [36] Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. [37] Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.

When we read through the Old Testament, we see myriads of examples of God making covenants with His chosen people, only to have them break them time and again.

Even in the New Testament I see Peter make a promise that Jesus told him he wouldn’t keep. Recall Matthew 26:33-35 (NLT)…Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.” [34] Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” [35] “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.

As we know, they all deserted Jesus, except John, on His way to and through the Cross.

The error in the logic of promises is that other than God, unreliable and falable people are making them. People make promises to persuade, whereas God makes promises to provide.

Some standard promises that came to mind were…

Courts ask bonafide liars to testify under oath by promising to tell the truth…
“Do you solemnly state that the evidence you shall give in this issue (or matter) shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”

But if liars lie, why should I believe them more because they swear on a Bible? If they don’t believe in, or fear God, what weight does their oath have. Perhaps the first question before that oath should be, do you reverence God? 🤔

Another promise we used to do as kids, and is still done in AWANA clubs, is…

“I pledge Allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America
and to the Republic for which it stands,
one nation under God, indivisible,
with Liberty and Justice for all.”

But as I look back, that pledge was more of a memorization exercise than a loyalty commitment. For example, many would argue that the USA is just as segregated, fragmented and devicive as all other in the world, thus rendering “one nation under God, indivisible,
with Liberty and Justice for all” hollow. And as I think about it further, we pledge our allegiance to a flag.

Don’t misunderstand what I am saying, indeed I am a grateful U.S. Citizen, I am merely saying we emphasize allegiance to symbols of countries, when 1 Peter 2:11-12 (NLT) clearly tells believers…Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. [12] Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

And Philippians 3:20 (NLT) reminds us…But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.

So if we are going to have an allegiance, it should be Hebrews 13:15-16 (NLT)…
[15] Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. [16] And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.

Perhaps, the most notable vow is the wedding vow, which typically says…

“I, , take you, , to be my wife (or husband), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy law, and this is my solemn vow.”

According to AI Overview, in 2025, the U.S. divorce rate for first marriages is estimated around 40-42%, a slight decrease from past decades, while second marriages face a much higher risk (over 60%).

I truly believe the overwhelming majority of people who wed plan to be married until death parts them. Still, as stated earlier unreliable and falable humans can and do change their minds.

One of the most disheartening reasons given for divorce is no-fault. Again according to AI Overview, No-fault divorces make up the vast majority of dissolutions in the United States, with some estimates indicating over 90% of divorces cite irreconcilable differences.

The irony is both people knew they were different when the wed, but rather than appreciating their differences and working together with a shared vision, they chose to walk away from one another instead.

There’s no judgement here, as a remarried divorcee myself. Yet I must emphasize, God hates divorce as stated in Malachi 2:16 (NLT)…“For I hate divorce!” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.”

The reason God hates divorce is explained in Ephesians 5:31-33 (NLT)…As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” [32] This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. [33] So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

You see, what married couples don’t realize is their responsibility to represent the unbreakable and faithful union of Christ and the church.

Notice, for husbands that means sacrificially, unconditionally and faithfully loving and serving our wives! 👀. And wives, that means humbly and submissively reverencing your husband’s, like God wants us to reverence Him. 🤷🏾‍♂️

As a matter of fact, God’s communicated order of a marriage is provided in 1 Corinthians 11:3 (NLT)…But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

To understand this properly is to recognize what Christ said in Matthew 20:26-28 (NLT)…
[26] But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, [27] and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. [28] For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

God places us in service to one another, I think we miss that point.

When Dana and I got married, we asked my beloved brother and friend Tony to read Ephesians 5:21 (NLT) as the foundation scripture for our marriage…And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

That means we live humbly submitted to one another. Thus, we don’t make a lot of well meaning but unattainable promises to each other, or God, but we simply give sincere ‘yes’ and ‘no’ responses to each others and God’s requests.

We believe God wants the chorus Lindy Cofer sings in Obedience…

I will love You with my yes, and with my obedience
I will love You with my yes, Jesus
I will love You with my yes, and with my obedience
I will love You with my yes, Jesus

Trust and Obey begins with a simple Yes.

If you want to live tried and true, don’t make promises, a simple yes or no will do.

Bonus Thought: In my personal study today, the Bible Project highlighted two spiritual GEMs, paraphrasing…

• God wants us to partner with Him to spread His goodness and love
• God’s Covenants are promises He makes and commitments He ask us to fulfill.

That’s what God is asking to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to, fulfilling His will His way!

Today’s song is…
Completely Yes

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)