And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go.
Worship songs are dangerous. The words we sing in worship are not simple poetry for the expression of the soul. They are communication to the God of the Universe, our Heavenly Father. At times, these songs cry out for help. At other times, they attempt to recognize the glory and majesty of our King. Still other times, these songs come as promises to our Father with lyrics such as, “I will.”
Conventional religious practices make it easy to fall into the same habit that the son in Jesus’ parable in Matthew 21 displays. Without realizing it, we can believe that we are faithfully following Christ when really we are telling God one thing in religious services, but living out something very different. In worship songs or even in prayers of desperation, we tell God that we will do something, and then we do not. Because we come back to the gathering of the saints the next week, and we give some money, and we sing the songs again, we believe that we are fulfilling our religious duty because we are. But what of our duty as sons and daughters?
In the times of Jesus, the Mediterranean culture placed great weight on honoring and obeying one’s father especially while still living in his home.* As the parable of Jesus goes, for one son to say that he would do something per the father’s request and not do it was clear disobedience. His duty was to obey and honor his father.
For those who have placed their trust and belief in Jesus, we are sons and daughters of God. Our duty as children includes honoring and obeying Him. Even if you find yourself in the place of the son who said he would not obey but then decided to, you can make the right decision today.
The message of John the Baptist is clear: repent (change the way you are at the fabric of your being) by understanding that you are a son and daughter. Live like it. Your Father loves you very much and has wonderful things for those who believe and walk in His ways.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to repent, allowing God to transform your being. Perhaps today God wants you to do the last thing (or things) that He asked you to do, but you never did. Maybe today God wants you to repent for your initial denial of His will even if you ended up doing it. Perhaps God wants you to know and receive in your heart that He is you Father and you are His child. Maybe God wants you to bring a new honesty to your worship.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.
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*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 535–538, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 21:28–32) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).