JESUS SPEAKING
“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.’ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir’ but he did not go. 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 the tax collectors and the harlots enter the kingdom of God before you” (Mathew 21: 28-31.)
INSPIRED THOUGHTS
There are two kinds of people; those who do and those who don’t. The priests and religious leaders failed to obey God despite their many years of biblical study; they preached of righteousness but were unsuccessful in achieving it. They confused knowledge with wisdom (knowledge is the comprehension of truth; whereas wisdom is the application of it.) While the intelligent were refusing to be obedient, many prostitutes and tax collectors were receiving salvation. These social outcasts possessed very little knowledge of scripture; yet what little they did possess, they chose to apply. The gospel is not just a thought or a good intention; it is an action.
In the spring of 1862 a confederate Major General named ‘Stonewall Jackson’ fought a famous military campaign in a valley near the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. His tactics were unorthodox and his troop movements unpredictable (he utilized speed and stealth to attack his union counterparts.) Concerning speed, he reportedly marched his 17,000 men nearly ‘646 miles in 48 days’ (approximately 13 miles a day.) Traveling at this furious pace, they met many natural obstacles (such as hills and streams.) At one point, they encountered a river too treacherous to cross. Jackson told his engineers to draw up plans for a bridge; he then summoned his wagon master and informed him that they urgently needed to cross the river. The wagon master began to gather together every rock, fence rail, and log he could find; before sunrise the next day, the wagon master approached General Jackson and said, ‘The artillery and wagons have crossed the river sir.’ General Jackson replied, ‘Where are the engineers, and what are they doing?’ The wagon master replied, ‘they are in their tent, drawing up the plans for the bridge.’
Knowledge is useless unless it is implemented to accomplish a task. We are called to be ‘doers of the word, and not hearers only.’ The Christian life is a life of action. When God commands us to love our enemies, we must love them. When he instructs us to give to the poor and needy, we must open our wallets (and purses.) When we are directed to pray for those who persecute us, we must drop to our knees. Keep the commandments of God and you will be blessed; obey Him and you will experience peace; follow Him and you will know joy; joy eternal; joy everlasting; joy without end.
“Lord Heavenly Father, give us the strength to live out Your commandments. May we receive Your words and accomplish them. May we be ‘doers of Your word and not hearers only;’ may our actions bring others to repentance; may we love our neighbors without restraint or indignation. We love You Father, and we praise You and we thank You; and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you.
Jesus Speaks 