December 5th, 2025 Devotional

LIVING WATER VINEYARD DEVOTION

Friday, December 5, 2025

“WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE JUST SAID YES?”

Imagine you’re walking down a dusty road with Jesus.

You hear His sandals brushing the dirt. You feel the warmth of His presence. You sense His nearness — and for a moment you think:

“I’m following Him.”

But then Jesus slows His pace.

He stops.

The crowds keep walking… but He turns toward you.

He looks right into your eyes — and in that gentle voice that shakes the soul, He asks:

“Are you really following Me… or just walking near Me?”

It’s a DTR moment —

a Define the Relationship conversation with Jesus.

Are you a fan… or a follower?

Fans admire Him.

Followers obey Him.

Fans stay until it gets uncomfortable.

Followers say:

“YES — wherever, whenever, whatever.”

And in Luke 9, we hear three voices that expose our hearts:

   •   “Wherever!” — the enthusiastic fan

   •   “Whenever!” — the delayed follower

   •   “Whatever…” — the divided heart

Jesus isn’t shaming us — He’s inviting us.

Inviting us into a deeper YES.

Because you can’t walk into God’s future

with your heart anchored in the past.

And throughout history, followers have shown us what a YES really looks like.

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THE YES OF BARNABAS — A QUIET MAN WHO SHAPED HISTORY

Barnabas never preached in stadiums.

He never wrote a letter that made it into Scripture.

He didn’t split seas or call down fire.

But he carried something more powerful:

A quiet, consistent YES.

1. He said YES with his finances.

Acts 4 says he sold his land — his inheritance — and laid the money at the apostles’ feet.

No spotlight.

No applause.

Just obedience.

2. He said YES to difficult people.

When no one trusted the newly converted Saul, Barnabas put his arm around him and said:

“Jesus changed him — I’ve seen it.”

His YES opened the door for the man who would become Paul.

3. He said YES to God’s mission.

When revival broke out in Antioch, the church didn’t send the “big names.”

They sent Barnabas — the one they knew would say YES.

4. He said YES even when it cost him friendship.

Paul rejected John Mark.

Barnabas refused to give up on him.

That YES rescued the man who later wrote the Gospel of Mark.

Barnabas changed the world — not by talent, but by obedience.

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THE YES OF THE TWO WOMEN IN THE ARENA

(Perpetua & Felicity — Carthage, A.D. 203)

Two centuries after Jesus walked the earth, two young women stood before Rome’s power — and Rome trembled.

PERPETUA

A noblewoman.

Educated.

Respected.

A new mother.

The empire arrested her for following Jesus.

Her father begged her:

“Think of your baby. Just say the words. Just deny Him.”

But Perpetua said:

“I cannot be called anything other than what I am — a Christian.”

She lost her freedom.

She lost her child’s embrace.

She faced the arena.

Yet her diary says:

“My heart was at peace. I trusted in the Lord.”

FELICITY

Beside her stood her friend Felicity — a young slave girl, eight months pregnant, also arrested for her faith.

The law forbid execution of pregnant women.

So Felicity prayed:

“Lord, let me give birth soon so I may suffer with my sisters.”

She delivered her baby early — an answer that broke Roman logic — so she could stand with Perpetua, united in faith.

THE ARENA

On the day of their execution, they walked hand-in-hand into the colosseum.

People expected terror.

They saw courage.

They heard singing.

A Roman soldier later said Perpetua’s face looked:

“as though she were already in Paradise.”

Two women.

Different backgrounds.

Same YES.

They didn’t delay.

They didn’t negotiate.

They didn’t look back.

They followed Jesus wherever, whenever, and whatever it cost.

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AND NOW JESUS TURNS TO YOU

The road in Luke 9 is not just ancient history.

It’s the road you walk today.

Think back to a moment in your life when Jesus stopped on your road.

A moment when He asked you to trust Him, surrender something, obey Him, or take a step of faith.

Maybe He whispered:

   •   “Wherever.” Go where I’m nudging you.

   •   “Whenever.” Don’t keep delaying obedience.

   •   “Whatever.” Let go of that one thing you’ve held onto.

What was the moment?

What did it cost you?

Did you say YES?

He is asking again — today.

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WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE SAID YES — LIKE BARNABAS, PERPETUA, AND FELICITY?

If Living Water Vineyard truly said:

   •   WHEREVER You lead

   •   WHENEVER You call

   •   WHATEVER You ask

We would see:

   •   revival

   •   unity

   •   boldness

   •   supernatural ministry

   •   generosity

   •   prodigals returning

   •   marriages restored

   •   strongholds broken

   •   a transformed city

Jesus does His greatest work

through surrendered people.

And He’s asking again:

“Will you follow Me?”

Not later.

Not when it’s convenient.

Not when life calms down.

But now.

Here.

Today.

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REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What area of my life has become a “later” instead of a YES?

2. Am I walking near Jesus, or truly following Him?

3. Where is Jesus stopping on the road and asking me to trust Him today?

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CLOSING PRAYER

Lord Jesus,

You are still stopping on the road and calling Your people.

Give me the surrendered heart of Barnabas — obedient in the small things.

Give me the courage of Perpetua and Felicity — steadfast and unshakable.

Teach me to say YES to You — wherever, whenever, and whatever.

Break hesitation.

Break fear.

Break excuses.

Make my life Your YES.

Amen.