Happy Mother’s Day! God has blessed us in marvelous ways with wonderful, godly women who are a great example of what it means to serve and follow our Lord. Thanks to all our great women of faith that are a part of our church family.

One of the things about moms is that they are definitely more interested in “doing” than “saying.” Certainly these words of our Lord call us to remember that like most moms our God wants us to do His will and not just talk about it.

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? (Matthew 21:28-31)

Perhaps you are a bit bothered by this parable, and you may want to answer Jesus’ question by saying, “Neither son was obedient.” However, Jesus tells us in the verses that follow that those who did not claim to be righteous were responding to Him, while those who claimed to be God’s righteous people did not believe in the witness of John the Baptist or the teaching and miracles of Christ. The son who actually did what his father had told him to do was the faithful and obedient son.

It seems to me the point is that we are to be people of action, not words. Of course we should say the right things as well, but there are many passages of Scripture which emphasize that what Jesus is looking for is people who will not just say they love Him but who will actually do what He says.

As we speak in the lesson today about Christian service and obedience, it is a matter of doing, not talking.

Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven… Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock…(Matthew 7:21-29)

I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you…Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (John 13:15-17)

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. (James 2:26)

Anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do, and doesn’t do it, sins. (James 4:17)                                     

So how about it? This week, will you be a doer—or a talker?