Daily Scripture: Matthew 21:28 “But give me your opinion: a man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ 29 He answered, ‘I don’t want to’; but later he changed his mind and went. 30 The father went to his other son and said the same thing. This one answered, ‘I will, sir’; but he didn’t go. 31 Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they replied. “That’s right!” Yeshua said to them. “I tell you that the tax-collectors and prostitutes are going into the Kingdom of God ahead of you! 32 For Yochanan came to you showing the path to righteousness, and you wouldn’t trust him. The tax-collectors and prostitutes trusted him; but you, even after you saw this, didn’t change your minds later and trust him.
Reflection Question:
Jesus told a pointed story in which a father told two sons to work in his vineyard. From one son, he got a "no" that became yes; from the other, a "yes" that became no. The story challenged all of us, and it showed the difference between Judas and Joseph of Arimathea. Judas followed Jesus for three years, but in the end turned away into the night. Joseph kept hiding his allegiance to Jesus until the cross moved him beyond fear to become an open disciple.
Scholar William Barclay wrote that this story was "setting before us a picture of two very imperfect sets of people, of whom one set were none the less better than the other. Neither son in the story was the kind of son to bring full joy to his father. Both were unsatisfactory; but the one who in the end obeyed was incalculably better than the other. The ideal son would be the son who accepted the father's orders with obedience and respect and who unquestioningly and fully carried them out." How can you keep growing toward greater authenticity in your spiritual life? In other words, how can you say "yes" to God, and then live out that commitment every day?
Family Activity:
Judas and Joseph both had choices to make as they witnessed Jesus' crucifixion. Just like those two men, we have opportunities each day to turn toward Christ or turn away from Him. As a family, talk about choices people make every day. What do you do when you could do your own homework or look off someone else's paper? When you could tell the truth or lie? When you could be kind or hurtful with your actions and words? Discuss how the choices we make affect us, other people and our relationships with God. Create a "Choose Christ" chart, listing all the ways to follow God with your choices. Pray and ask God to help you make choices that honor you, others and God.
Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, let me follow you faithfully, neither turning away from you when things get tough, nor hiding my commitment when others press me to do that. Help me to be a fully faithful child of yours. Amen.
Our GPS Insights blog shares reflections each day from our pastors, staff and congregants.
Read today's reflection from Liz Gyori online. Liz serves on the Resurrection staff as the Group Life Training Program Director.
Church of the Resurrection
Church of the Resurrection
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
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