June 15, 2023

“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.

 

Matthew 21:28-32

Devotional

The college I attended had a requirement that all incoming students took a writing seminar to ensure that everyone was able to write what was considered “college level essays,” which seemed a little strange given that it was considered a difficult university to get into. The culmination of that course was a ten-page paper that was supposed to be written by a group from the class. A few days after turning in that final paper, the professor asked me to come and talk with him, and I knew what the topic of the conversation would entail: the other members of my group had done less than the bare minimum and our paper reflected that I was not going to allow their lack of effort to reflect poorly on myself.

 

We’ve all been in those situations, whether in school or at work, where someone says that they will work on a project, yet nothing comes of it, or the quality of their work would not show the aim of the project. It’s one of the more frustrating moments for most of us (even if we might have been the one who didn’t put in the effort that we knew that we should have). Jesus knows that where we start out in our lives is not nearly as important as where we actually finish. We could have walked away from the church for years of our lives (or never have been exposed to the Gospel), while still coming to know Jesus later in our lives, and God will rejoice.

For Reflection


Are you someone who said, “I will not” and yet have ultimately gone, or have you been someone who said, “I go,” while having not followed?

 

Thinking about your current life stage, where do you see your relationship with God in another five years?

Prayer


Lord God, we know that you have called us each to know you, to live for you, yet we know that our lives have not always gone where you have desired. Help us to let our yes be yes and our no to be now. In Jesus’ name we pray; amen.

Rev. Scott Tucker
Pastor for Grand Adults
404-842-3172