Isaiah 58: Verses 2-4 (NIV)
For day after day they seek me out;
they seem eager to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that does what is right
and has not forsaken the commands of its God.
They ask me for just decisions
and seem eager for God to come near them.
‘Why have we fasted,’ they say,
‘and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
and you have not noticed?’
“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
and exploit all your workers.
Your fasting ends in quarrelling and strife,
and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
and expect your voice to be heard on high.
Matthew Chapter 21: Verses 28-32 (NIV)
“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.
Sometimes, even with the best of intentions, we do things because we know that we should do them, but we are just going through the motions. That’s what God was speaking of here. Those in authority were asking God to speak, and they were even going as far as to observe the ritual fasts, but the façade only went so far, and their real attitude couldn’t remain hidden – not that it was ever hidden from God.
Sometimes we do have to do things for God, even when we don’t feel like it. We have to put personal feelings aside and move in obedience to what He has asked of us. But that’s quite different to having the wrong attitude in our heart and pretending that all is well when its not. If we “put a face on” for the wrong reasons we usually can only keep it up for so long before our true feelings are let loose. God would rather we are totally honest with Him and ask His forgiveness for the attitude we are harbouring, and ask Him to change our attitude to the right one. At least that prayer will be answered.
In the parable of the two sons that Jesus tells here, it is the first son who repents of his attitude that is commended. The second only made an empty promise. It’s a reminder to me of how much God loves a genuinely repentant heart, and therefore encourages me to be open and honest with God always about things – even if I feel bad about my attitude, its nothing God can’t sort. Far better to let Him than pretend that all is well!
Dear Lord,
Thank You that You will never turn away a genuinely repentant heart. There is nothing that You can’t change if we are willing. Help me to be more like the first son, willing to be made willing if necessary. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.