Daily Dose of the Word of God - Matthew 21: 28-32

Gregg DeMey, Lead Pastor

Transcript

Gregg DeMey 0:06 

Good Morning! Welcome to Elmhurst CRC's Daily Dose of the Word of God. This is Gregg DeMey, Lead Pastor at Elmhurst CRC. It's Tuesday, August 29 and Sunday is coming. Today we'll be reading from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 21, verses 28 through 32.

Gregg DeMey  0:22 

There Jesus is in the temple courts of Jerusalem talking to the chief priests and elders of the Jewish people. 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?”  “The first,” they answered.  Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 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.

Gregg DeMey 1:21 

We have the English phrase, "talk is cheap". To which Jesus would say, "yes and amen" (I told the parable about this). It's so easy to say, "I love you, Lord," but can be so hard to do what the Lord's spirit is asking us to do. It can be so easy to say, "I have decided to follow Jesus!" But, it can be so hard moment by moment to resist deciding to do just what feels so right. It's so easy to say, "Jesus paid at all," and it can be so hard to avoid worrying about paying the bills. So easy to say, "forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors," and it can be so hard to actually forgive the annoying person who is right in front of us each and every day. It's so easy to say, "I believe in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting," and so hard to walk through this world on a day like today with an eternal mindset.

Gregg DeMey 2:13 

While following Jesus is a narrow path - it's not for the timid, the bashful, the smooth talkers - It takes courage to follow the Lord. Jesus is not looking for any more talk or the right words. With all the sermons and devotions in the world, if words alone could save us, we'd be in heaven already. Jesus is looking for people to walk the walk; to do what he says, to put their money where their mouth is (to use another English phrase), to put up or shut up. Does this sound crass? It's actually quite a bit gentler than how our Lord spoke with those nice religious people so many years ago.

Gregg DeMey  2:50  

Let's pray. Lord, have mercy. Especially on those of us who use so many words .h me today to live what I believe for your sake and for your glory. Amen.