Do the Lord's Will

Note from today’s Bible reading: Matthew 20-21

After the chief priests and elders challenged Jesus’ authority (Matthew 21:23-27), Jesus told a parable of a man with two sons: “He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go work today in the vineyard.’ And he answered, ‘I will not’; but afterward he regretted it and went. The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he answered, ‘I will, sir’; but he did not go” (Matthew 21:28-30).

Jesus then asked a simple question: “Which of the two did the will of his father?” (Matthew 21:31). The chief priests and elders knew the answer and responded correctly. The first son, despite his initial refusal, ended up doing his father’s will. The second son, despite his promise to go, failed to do so.

As Jesus explained the parable, He indicated that one’s response to God’s word will determine whether he will “get into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 21:31). If one claims that he will do the Lord’s will, that does not necessarily mean he will. On the other hand, even if one initially refuses to obey, God is still willing to welcome him if he repents.

So do the Lord’s will. Even if you have failed to walk in a way that would please the Lord in the past, you can start now and God will accept you. However, let us be warned that intending to do something or claiming that we will do it will not be enough; we must do what the Lord wants us to do.