What do you Think?

Matthew 21:28-32

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

²⁸ “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.’

 ²⁹ “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

 ³⁰ “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.

 ³¹ “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”

 “The first,” they answered.

 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. ³² For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

What does the Father want you to do?  As I read this scripture over and over again, I wondered what the Lord would have me write about.  As I thought, I had to ask myself once again, “What does the Father want me to do?”  What is He asking of each of us? 

Matthew 9: 35-38

³⁵ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%209:35%20-38&version=NIV1984)

It is apparent from both of these passages that the Lord wants us to be workers in the field.  There are times that we say “yes” and don’t show up but I think it goes a little deeper than that.  Sometimes we say, “yes”, we go and even do what we think the Lord wants us to do much like the pharisees we make up the rules along the way.  Or we go and work because we feel obligated therefore we work with the wrong heart, maybe even grumble a bit.  I have found though that when I am obedient to what the Lord wants me to do, even though I may start out grumbling, those are the times that my grumbles turn to joy and I end the task serving Him with joy.

We all know what the Lord wants us to do.  We are to go out and work in the fields of this world.  We are to be a witness to those who do not know Him.  Sometimes those people are less than desirable.  They may be homeless, prostitutes, criminals, drug addicts, burdensome people, time consuming people, people with more problems than we can possibly handle.  These are the ones that Christ is telling the pharisees that will inherit the Kingdom of God ahead of them. Not those who remain in sin but those who believe and call upon His name.  They were once the rebellious ones that said, “no” but have now seen the glory of the Lord and have shown up to work in the fields.

The other people, are the ones that complain about those who “have not”.  Those who do not have time or patience with them.  When I first got married my husband was a farmer.  I enjoyed the farm life and would have liked to have remained there for many more years than we did.  But one thing I learned about farming is that you have to be patient.  There is a lot of work that goes into growing a crop and many days of growing before the harvest is complete.  We should never tire of doing the Lord’s work and we should never say “yes” and then grumble and complain about what we are being asked to do.

Jesus makes it very clear in these passages that He will accept the repentant heart.  He has no room for those who put on a front, like the pharisees, who claim to be of the Father yet do not recognize His one and only Son. 

My question today, “Are you a “yes man” to the Lord Jesus Christ?  Do you say “yes” and then do as you please?  Or are you a “no way man” type of person who then thinks about it and does as they are asked? 

Jesus wants the broken hearted in order for them to show the glory of the One who changed them forever.  Brokenhearted people are the ones who repent and put God at the top of the list.  As you seek Him, may you find Him when you seek Him with all your heart.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila