Bible
Study: Zephaniah 3, 1 to 13. And Matthew 21, 28 to 32.
The saying
that “talk is cheap” is what characterises the story in our Gospel passage this
morning. When we come to church, it is very easy for us to say “Yes” or “I do”
to God but when we get home, when temptations arise, words are no longer
necessary, and then and then alone do we actually discover whether or not we believe
in God or whether or not we meant what we said in his presence.
According
to Jesus, a man had two sons, and he asked one to work in his field but the
young man bluntly refused but later on, he thought about it and went but the
second did not hesitate at all, but did not go eventually. Do not serve God
only with your lips, do not serve God only in public, let your worship begin
from the inner recesses of your heart. Let your actions even in secret profess
your faith and not just your words. As James said, “Show me your faith apart
from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.” James 2,18.
Looking at
the story again, I tried to put myself in the shoes of the second son who said
to his father that he would go and work but eventually refused. And I discovered
the following:
One: He
might have accepted to go and made plans to do the work but felt there was
still time. He soon got deceived by time that he kept postponing the work
endlessly. Eventually, by the time he was ready to go, it was now too late. Dear
friends, when it comes to serving God and doing good, PROCASTINATION is
dangerous. Whatever God has put in your heart to do, begin immediately. If
there is something in your life which you know God is not happy with, repent
today. Never keep until tomorrow, that which you can do today because tomorrow does
not belong to you. This very day may just be your last on earth so act now.
Two: He
might have said “Yes” just to make his father happy and look at him as a good
son but had no intentions at all to do the work. Perhaps, he said “yes” to give
an impression to his father that he was better than the first son who had
honestly said he would not go. Some of us are like that, we love to make a good
impression of ourselves before authority. As Jesus noted, John the Baptist
preached a baptism of repentance and those who were condemned by society heard
his words and changed their ways, they had a rethink of their life and decided
to walk in the light. But those who felt they were holier than everybody else refused
to allow John’s words touch their hearts. They gave an impression of themselves
as living saints but God who cannot be deceived by outward appearance knew they
were simply hypocrites. Human beings can be deceived and very easily as well
but God can never be deceived.
In the final
analysis, it is not our past that counts before God. If as Jesus noted, tax
collectors, and harlots were making their way into the kingdom of God before
the chief priests, it means that your case is not yet hopeless! The moment we
decide to change our ways, God completely forgets our past. This works vice
versa, meaning if we stop being righteous and change from our good ways, God
also forgets our past and treats us like sinners.
The prophet
Ezekiel speaking on behalf of God says it all: “Hear now, O house of Israel: Is
my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? When the righteous turn
away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for
the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. Again, when the wicked
turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and
right, they shall save their life. Because they considered and turned away from
all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they
shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, "The way of the Lord is
unfair." O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that
are unfair? Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according
to your ways, says the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions;
otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions
that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new
spirit! Ezekiel 18, 25 to 31.
Let us
Pray:
Lord
Jesus, help me to realise that it is better for my life itself and not my words
to proclaim my faith. Amen.
Good morning.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you.
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