So much to learn
I've been a Christian all my life. I've gone through college and seminary and been a pastor for almost 12 years and I can't say that I've ever seen this before. There's a parable in Matthew 21 that in all of my studies (and I believe I know Matthew better than any other gospel) I NEVER saw this before. It's the parable of the two sons. It goes like this:
How could I have missed it? I think it would have been a good parable for me to have seen a long time ago. I have a serious problem with saying "yes" and then not following through. It may be the biggest character flaw I have. I think it stems from wanting to be liked. I don't want to tell people "no" because then I can't be their hero. Somehow, I think saying "no" reflects badly on me. What I often forget is that now following through is even worse.
The parable also reminds me that faith is an "action word." I think evangelicals (and Catholics throughout history and Protestants after the Reformation) have spent too much time focusing on faith as something that happens only in our head. As long as we believe the right things about Jesus, we'll make it into heaven.
The parable in Matthew 21 shows the flaws in this type of thinking. We think that by believing these particular doctrines, we're saying "yes" to Jesus. But, too often we then go out and do things completely contrary to what Jesus says or we do nothing at all as if we're "saved" only so we can go to heaven.
Faith is obedience. Love is obedience. I'm not sure how we ever got away from this. The "religious people" think they're OK, because they have the rules mastered. The "prostitutes and tax collectors" come humbly to Jesus and seek to reorder their lives for the sake of Christ.
How many of us religious people are willing to reorder our lives in accordance with Christ? Am I willing to humble myself and not think I have it all figured out? Am I willing to say "yes" to Jesus AND follow it up with action?
"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'
"'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
"Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go.
"Which of the two did what his father wanted?"
"The first," they answered.
Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
How could I have missed it? I think it would have been a good parable for me to have seen a long time ago. I have a serious problem with saying "yes" and then not following through. It may be the biggest character flaw I have. I think it stems from wanting to be liked. I don't want to tell people "no" because then I can't be their hero. Somehow, I think saying "no" reflects badly on me. What I often forget is that now following through is even worse.
The parable also reminds me that faith is an "action word." I think evangelicals (and Catholics throughout history and Protestants after the Reformation) have spent too much time focusing on faith as something that happens only in our head. As long as we believe the right things about Jesus, we'll make it into heaven.
The parable in Matthew 21 shows the flaws in this type of thinking. We think that by believing these particular doctrines, we're saying "yes" to Jesus. But, too often we then go out and do things completely contrary to what Jesus says or we do nothing at all as if we're "saved" only so we can go to heaven.
Faith is obedience. Love is obedience. I'm not sure how we ever got away from this. The "religious people" think they're OK, because they have the rules mastered. The "prostitutes and tax collectors" come humbly to Jesus and seek to reorder their lives for the sake of Christ.
How many of us religious people are willing to reorder our lives in accordance with Christ? Am I willing to humble myself and not think I have it all figured out? Am I willing to say "yes" to Jesus AND follow it up with action?
Labels: faith, Jesus, Matthew 21, obedience
posted by Kory at
11:22 AM
2 Comments:
great thoughts......I know for me at times I find that the "WANTS" in life are more like the impulses of a child....... example: I want to hurry home to do something. When God is nudging me to do something else....and I tend to listen to my inner wants (which are many) and push the "NEED"/or serving to the back burner. GOd shares these nudges to me all the time........When I continue to allow myself to do this over & over it becomes easier to do each time........"HABIT".... In those times for me focusing on FAITH has to be with more intention. Habits only take 23 days to make or BREAK......it happens very fast for most people. Letting the habit take over would begin taking my faith to a more idle zone. The growing process of my Spiritual Growth would be stunned. Messages such as this and the teachings at Hillside in the messages help to be a continually reminder for me that with each piece, each event, & every conversation GOD adds to my spiritual puzzle. Often when I am not obedient and do not follow up with "ACTION" then I place some of the pieces the wrong place and the Picture takes a very interesting shape........ SR
Great POST!!
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