First Time Obedience

Scripture:  Matthew 21:28–22:14 

 

Observation:  In our preschool and in my parenting I have always tried to promote the idea of “first time obedience”.  Here in Matthew 21:28-32 Yeshua addresses this idea.  He says here that obedience is important even if it means we have to have a change of mind before we do it.  Do we still want our kids doing “first time obedience”?  Absolutely!  This keeps things orderly in our homes and classrooms, but one thing I want my own children to do is to go beyond outward obedience and have a changed mind and heart. 

 

Jesus gives the example of three groups of people here in these verses.

 

1.       The first group he talks about are those who are given the word.  Some do not respond immediately and some do not respond at all.  To respond means that you have a change of heart shown through obedient actions.

2.     The second group he talks about are those who do away with those who bring the word.  They kill the proverbial messenger.  This of course goes all the way back to the prophets of old and all the way through Messiah and even into our day today.

3.     The third group in this passage are those who are called.  Everyone is called, but only a few chose to listen and obey.  This third group is the elect, the ones who have had a change of heart and who are willing to listen to the message and act upon it.

 

Application:  Wouldn’t it be GREAT if we would listen the first time around and do “first time obedience” with everything God told us to do?  I wish I could say I have always obeyed God “the first time”, but unfortunately I cannot say that (with a clear conscious anyhow).  Sometimes it takes me a little while to get that “change of heart or mind” that 21:29 talks about.  I spent my early childhood and teen years with the knowledge that Jesus loved me and I even said “the sinner’s prayer” and asked Jesus into my heart as an elementary aged child and got baptized; however, it was not until I was grown and married that I realized that even though I had asked Jesus into my life as my Savior that I had never submitted my life to Him to be my LORD.  At age 21 I fully submitted my life to Him not only as my Savior, but as my LORD and got re-baptized.  What is your testimony?  All are called, but not everyone responds to His call.  Have you?  I would love to hear your testimony in the comments below J

 

Prayer:  Father God in Heaven, Holy is Your Name!  Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.  Father, I pray that each one reading this today (myself included) would be quick(er) to obey You.  Lord, I know as a parent when I ask my children to do something that usually it is because I have their best interest(s) in mind.  God I know that when You ask us to do something that You have our absolute and best interest(s) in mind, but sometimes we (speaking of myself) are like “dumb sheep”.  God I know there are times it has taken me way too long to get to the “still waters” and to let you lead me like I should.  Thank you for your Amazing Grace and patience with me LORD!  Father let the words of this passage sink in deeply to us today.  May I be quick to obey!  Lord if there are those who have not taken hold of the “wedding garments”** that chapter 22 in Matthew talks about LORD then I pray that they would take time today to turn to You Lord and put on those spiritual garments that You provide so that we could be present with You and partake of the Wedding Feast of the Lamb and be in Your Holy Presence for all eternity.  Through Christ, our Lamb, I pray, Amen & Amen

 

** If you have never asked Jesus into Your heart or submitted Your life fully to Christ then I pray you would not wait any longer to do that.  Jesus says all are called, but there are only a few that chose Him.  What are the “wedding garments” that Christ talks about in this passage?  These are the robes of righteousness that Jesus offers to those who call Him LORD and Savior.  When we come to Christ and ask Him to cleanse us of our sins then He clothes us in robes of righteousness.  We are no longer seen as sinners, but righteous in the eyes of God because of the sacrifice of Yeshua, Jesus, our LORD.  Without being clothed in the righteousness of Christ we have no hope of a future glory.  We cannot earn our salvation.  We cannot do enough good works to get us to heaven.  Christ is our only way to Heaven.  His is the Name we must call on to be saved.  All of our “good works” are “filthy rags” in God’s eyes.  Nothing we do would ever be good enough, only Christ was good enough.  His death gives us new life.  If you want to know more about this new life in Christ or if you are uncertain of your eternity PLEASE settle this issue today.  I would be delighted to pray with you today.  Please call, email, text, private message or come and see me today!  This is THE MOST IMPORTANT decision you will ever make!  Please share this message with others today.  This is one time First Time Obedience is absolutely crucial – don’t delay!