“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?” Matthew 21:28-31
The colloquialism that comes to mind today is that it is "easier said than done." It is a saying that we are all familiar with because it is true. We can claim to be willing or able to do anything until it is actually time to perform. That, as they say, is where the rubber meets the road.
Far too often in our spiritual lives, we are guilty of saying or otherwise representing our faith, hope, trust and belief in God while our actions prove otherwise. It may very well be that we have the best of intentions. I have heard it said that the road to hell is paved with those. Nevertheless we speak forth or otherwise represent our greatest aspirations of obedience and alignment with the will of our Father, but, as it is human to do, we sometimes fall short. We say that we will study our Bibles more, give more, attend more, pray more and be a better example at work, home and community, but do we? We must ask ourselves why we make such claims. Is it to maintain appearances? Is it a type of self-motivation to do the things we ought? Is it because we feel it is expected of us by those in our various circles? Or is it that we do try but fail? We must all produce our own answers. The question we must really consider is, what good is profession without production?
Beloved, Jesus famously stated, "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter," Matt 7:21. You see, even then, people were saying one thing and doing another. You also see the grave consequences associated with living a life long on "show" and short on "do." You will recall the most terrifying example of this in the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Let us never underestimate the importance of doing. God has given us well documented commands by which we must endeavor to live daily. He has not done so idly, for with, by and from Him, there is always purpose and that, exclusively for His glory and our well being.
Is it all easier said than done? Certainly, however, the more we do, the easier it gets. God has promised that the rewards for doing so our literally out of this world.
In pursuit of a transformed life,
Lee
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