I'll do it

It's been an incredible journey through Jesus's parables, hasn't it? We've seen how these everyday stories hold profound spiritual truths, revealing who God is, who we are, and what His Kingdom is all about. They're like little spiritual cheat codes, helping us grasp big concepts and even share them with others. As we dive into these stories, we often find ourselves within them, asking: "Where do I fit in? What am I meant to be doing? How do I change?" These are awesome questions to wrestle with as we explore God's Word.

What's Your "Yes" Really Mean?

Today, we're wrapping up our series with a powerful parable from Matthew 21:28-32. This one hits close to home, especially for those of us who consider ourselves followers of Jesus.

Here's the scene: Jesus is, once again, being grilled by the chief priests and elders. They're basically asking, "Who do you think you are? What gives you the right to teach?" Jesus, ever the master, flips the script on them with a question about John the Baptist. Their inability to answer reveals their true hearts – and that's where our parable comes in.

The Two Sons and the Vineyard

Jesus tells a story about a man with two sons. He tells the first, "Son, go work in the vineyard today." The son grumbles, "I don't want to," but later, he has a change of heart and goes. The father then goes to the second son with the same request. This son, eager to please, says, "I will, sir!" but never actually shows up to work.

Jesus then asks, "Which of the two did his father's will?" The answer is obvious: the first son. And then Jesus drops a bombshell: "Truly I tell you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you." Ouch.

More Than Just Words

Let's break this down. From the get-go, we see a clear relationship here: a father and his sons. Even with their own free will, there's an expectation, a connection. Parents invest so much in their kids, and there’s a natural sense of wanting to help them out, especially when it's the "family business."

And that's what the vineyard represents: God's work, the family business of His Kingdom. When God asks us to "go work in the vineyard," He's not asking for something out of line. He's our Creator, our Rock, our Guide, our Provider, our Savior. He has every right to ask us to participate in His good work – work that ultimately benefits us!

The "I Don't Want To" Son

The first son's initial response, "I don't want to," might sound familiar. Sometimes, God's requests feel inconvenient, costly, or just plain hard. We might think about the struggle, the effort, and just say, "No thanks." This blunt refusal mirrors how many in the world outright reject God. But it can also sound like us believers, saying, "Yeah, I'm a Christian, but I'm not doing that."

But here's the crucial part: he changed his mind and went. Something shifted in his heart. Maybe he thought about his relationship with his father, or realized the benefit of the work. He repented and turned his heart. That's what Acts 3:19 is talking about: "Repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out." And 2 Corinthians 7:10 reminds us that "godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret."

The "I Will, Sir" Son

Then there's the second son. He said all the right things. "Oh yes, sir! Right away, Dad!" He sounded respectful, willing, impressive even. But his words were just that – words. He never actually went.

This is where it gets real for us. How often do we give God "lip service" but fail to follow through? We say we'll trust Him, then spend days worrying. We say we'll change, we'll serve, we'll live according to His Word, and then… we don't. It's like a "California stop" at a stop sign – you slow down, you look like you're going to obey, but then you just roll right through.

Isaiah 29:13 says, "These people approach me with their speeches to honor me with lip-service, yet their hearts are far from me." And Jesus himself warns in Matthew 7:21, "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven."

Action Speaks Louder

So, who is truly doing God's will? The one who says "yes" but doesn't act? Or the one who struggles, perhaps even says "no" at first, but ultimately acts? The chief priests knew the answer, and we know it too. The struggle isn't the problem; the lack of action is.

God desires genuine obedience from the heart, not just empty promises. The beautiful truth is that repentance is always available for those willing to change.

A New Season of Obedience

The vineyard is God's Kingdom, and the work He calls us to do is vital. It's time for a new season of obedience. If you know what God has been prompting you to do – whether it's something big like sharing your faith, or something smaller in your daily life – now is the time to do it. Let your life be a testament to your faith, demonstrating your love for God through your actions in His vineyard.

What's one step you can take today to move from just saying "yes" to actually doing?