Daily Devotions
Profession Versus Performance
Reading for October 8th: Matthew 21-22
“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him."
Matthew 21:28-32
I have a tendency to be all talk and no action. I have talked about lots of diets I wanted to try, exercise programs I thought would be helpful, foreign languages I wanted to learn, adventurous hikes I wanted to try, and dozens of other big ideas that never translated into real action. Talking about things can sound really good. You can sound like a really disciplined, interesting, adventurous type person. But if it's only talk then in the end it's worthless.
Now, think about this in a spiritual context. When it comes to the will of God are we all about doing his will or are we just talk? God expects (and deserves) more than our profession. He wants performance. Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21)
Don't treat the will of God the same way you treat other areas of your life (diet, exercise, etc.). Stop talking about doing God's will. Be a doer of God's will (James 1:22).
Father, help us to translate our profession into performance. Help us to be doers of your Word and not hearers only.
