Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

October 28
Sunday


I DON'T
FELL LIKE IT

READ:
Matthew 21:28-32
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He answered and said,
"I will not," but
afterward he regretted
it and went.
__Matthew 21:29
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Have you ever faced an unwanted chore and felt as if it were the last thing on earth you wanted to do? Mowing the lawn, doing the wash, cleaning the house, or even preparing a Sunday school lesson after an exhausting week can make us feel like procrastinating.

When this happens, my wife and I have a motto we repeat to each other. "I don't feel like it__but I"m going to do it anyway." There is something about recognizing our lack of motivation and then choosing to be responsible that helps us follow through.

God's value on faith and obedience can be seen in the parables of Jesus. Christ spoke about two sons who were asked to work in the vineyard. The first said no, but "afterward he regretted it and went" (Matt. 21:29). The second said yes but did not follow through. Then the Lord asked His listeners, "Which of the two did the will of his father?" (v.31). The obvious answer is the one who finished the task.

Our Lord's illustration underscores a key spiritual principle. God is interested in our faith and obedience__not just our good intentions. Next time you are tempted to shrik your duties, why not say, "I don't feel like it," and then ask God for the grace to do it anyway. __ Dennnis Fisher
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~~~~~~~~~~~~O help us, Lord, to heed Your Word,~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Its precepts to obey;~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~And give us strength to quench the urge~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~To do things our own way. __Sper~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Obedience is faith in action.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ Matthew 21:28-32**********

28 "But what do you think?
A man had two sons, and
he came to the first and
said, 'Son, go, work today
in my vineyard.'

29 "He answered and said,
'I will not,' but afterward he
regretted it and went.

30 "Then he came to the
second and said likewise.
And he answered and said,
'I go, sir,' but he did not go.

31 "Which of the two did
the will of his father?"
They said to Him, "The
first."
Jesus said to them,
"Assuredly, I say to you
that tax collectors and
harlots enter the kingdom
of God before you. 32 For
John came to you in the
way of righteousness, and
you did not believe him;
but tax collectors and
harlots believed him; and
when you saw it, you did
not afterward relent and
believe him."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In Matthew 21, the religious leaders had questioned Jesus' authority
to cleanse the temple, to heal, and to teach (vv.12-16). In response,
Jesus taught three parables, Bible commentor Warren Wiersbe
gives this explanation: "In the parable of the two sons (21:28-31),
Jesus warned that the nation of Israel had rejected the Father. In the
parable of the landowner (21:33-44), the Jews had rejected the Son,
And in the parable of the marriage feast (22:1-14), they had rejected
the Holy Soirit. God's offer of salvation has also gone out to the
non-jews (21:31,41;22:9)." __ SKT