Doing God's Will Beyond Words and Intentions

Devotional

Day 1: When "I Won’t" Becomes "I Did"

A child’s defiant shouts fade into unexpected obedience. True submission isn’t found in polished words but in the quiet work of hands. Like Philip cleaning his room while protesting, faith often looks like doing the hard thing before feeling resolved. God cares less about our complaints than our willingness to move toward holiness. The kingdom advances through those who grumble their way into grace. [30:16]

“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” (Matthew 21:28–31, ESV)

Reflection: When has your reluctant “no” to God’s call turned into a faithful “yes” through action? How might unfinished obedience in your life become an invitation today?

Day 2: Fig Trees and Unused Potential

A leafy fig tree stands fruitless, cursed for failing its purpose. Jesus’ harsh lesson reveals God’s grief over unused potential. Like temple leaders who abandoned their calling, we wither when we prioritize self-preservation over bearing spiritual fruit. True life comes not from appearing religious but from yielding what we were made to give. [33:18]

And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once. (Matthew 21:19, ESV)

Reflection: Where does your life show lush leaves without fruit? What dormant purpose might God be asking you to awaken this season?

Day 3: Expedient Ignorance or Costly Truth

Religious leaders choose safety over integrity with their “we don’t know.” Expedient ignorance protects status but starves souls. Every evasion of truth—whether through silence, half-answers, or fearful compliance—leaves others hungry for the bread we refuse to break. Courage begins when we risk comfort to name what’s holy. [34:34]

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible. (Ephesians 5:11–13, ESV)

Reflection: When have you defaulted to “I don’t know” to avoid conflict? What truth is God asking you to embody—not just state—this week?

Day 4: Eagle Eyes for Brokenness

An Eagle Scout learns to spot community needs as holy projects. Baptism gives us new vision—not for critique but for restoration. Like Liam seeing opportunities to rebuild, disciples notice the cracks where God’s kingdom could break through. Our hands become tools for the repair we’re commissioned to undertake. [37:54]

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: What overlooked need in your sphere have you trained yourself not to see? How might addressing it become your next “Eagle project” for God?

Day 5: Late Obedience Still Bears Fruit

A grumbling pastor becomes his wife’s representative, proving it’s never too late. Like the Mets’ unlikely comeback or the first son’s change of heart, God specializes in redeeming delayed yeses. What we call procrastination, grace calls preparation. Every moment breathes with second chances to join what God is already making new. [41:14]

Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:1–2, ESV)

Reflection: What unfinished “yes” to God have you been postponing? How might today’s ordinary moment hold your next sacred assignment?

Sermon Summary

The question of obedience begins with a little boy hollering, “I don’t have to. I don’t want to. I’m not going to,” while he cleans his room anyway. The two sons in Jesus’ story raise that same question: which one actually did the father’s will? The first son said no, then went. The second son said yes, then did not go. Actions finally tell the truth about obedience.

Jesus’ conflict with the religious authorities happens on a very busy Monday in Holy Week. The fig tree with leaves but no figs becomes an object lesson. A fig tree exists to produce figs, and the temple leaders existed to lead people to God. The authorities’ answer, “We don’t know,” becomes a fig tree without figs sort of answer. Their ignorance was not innocent. It was expedient ignorance, choosing what was safe instead of what was true.

The contrast between truth and safety presses into ordinary life. Silence around cruelty, prejudice, injustice, or contempt can sound polite and harmless, but silence can also say, “I don’t know what is right.” The church cannot be a people full of leaves but empty of fruit. Baptism recreates God’s people in Christ for the good things God planned long ago, not merely for private comfort or religious words.

The commission of baptism gives followers of Jesus a different way of seeing the world. The Eagle Scout who completes a project begins seeing other things that need to be made better, and that same responsibility belongs to every Christian. God’s Spirit calls the church to notice where mercy is needed, where injustice must be resisted, and where something broken can be made better. “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done” includes God’s will being done in homes, churches, communities, and the wider world.

The good news in the two sons is that it is not too late. Tax collectors and prostitutes, once far from God’s will, were turning and following Christ, while religious leaders still had time to turn as well. God does not reject the person whose first response was no. God forgives slow obedience and welcomes the one who finally steps forward, speaks up, gives, serves, comforts, and follows Christ with actions instead of words alone. It ain’t over till it’s over.

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Key Takeaways

1. Choose truth over safe silence The temptation to say what is safe can be especially strong when truth might cost approval, comfort, or belonging. Silence in the face of cruelty or injustice is never merely empty; it can imply that right and wrong are unclear. Faithful obedience requires the courage to name what God has made plain. [35:10]
2. Baptism recreates people for good works Baptism carries more than God’s promise of presence and forgiveness. Baptism also gives God’s people a commission to participate in justice, mercy, and repair. God’s masterpiece is not meant to remain on display without purpose, but to do the good things God prepared. [36:36]
3. Faith should change what Christians see The Holy Spirit gives followers of Christ eyes to notice where the world is wounded and where something can be made better. Christian discipleship does not permit detached observation of suffering. God’s call is to see the need and do what can be done. [37:25]
4. A delayed yes can still obey The first son’s initial refusal did not become his final word. God’s grace leaves room for repentance, changed direction, and obedience that comes later than it should have. The important question is not whether resistance happened first, but whether God’s will is finally done.

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Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[29:57] - A Child Cleans His Room
[31:14] - Which Son Obeyed?
[31:37] - Jesus Enters the Temple
[32:22] - The Fig Tree Without Fruit
[33:46] - The Authorities Choose Safety
[35:10] - Saying What Is True
[36:36] - Recreated for Good Works
[37:25] - Seeing What Can Be Better
[38:45] - The Father’s Will
[39:15] - It Is Not Too Late
[40:16] - A Late Yes Still Counts
[41:14] - It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 21:28-32
“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.” [31:24]

Ephesians 2:10
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” [36:37]

Matthew 21:18-22
“In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you again!" And the fig tree withered at once. When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree wither at once?" And Jesus answered them, "Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” [32:22]

Observation questions

In the parable of the two sons, how do each son’s words compare with what each one finally does?
What details connect the fig tree with leaves but no fruit to Jesus’ confrontation with the religious authorities? [33:08]
When the authorities are asked about John’s baptism, what possible consequences do they consider before answering, “We don’t know”? [33:58]
According to Ephesians 2:10, what purpose are God’s people recreated in Christ to fulfill? [36:41]

Interpretation questions

Why does Jesus treat the first son as the one who did the father’s will, even though his first answer was no? What does this show about the difference between a person’s first response and their final direction?
In what way was the religious leaders’ answer an example of “expedient ignorance”—choosing safety rather than truth? [34:58]
How does the fig tree image challenge a faith that has religious appearance but does not produce mercy, justice, or obedience? [36:14]
What does it mean for baptism to be both God’s promise to believers and a commission to join God’s work of justice and mercy? [38:12]

Application questions

Where are you tempted to give a safe answer, stay quiet, or change the subject when you know someone is being treated cruelly, unfairly, or with contempt? What might truthful and wise speech look like in that situation? [35:29]
Is there an area of obedience where your first response to God has been, “I don’t want to” or “not now”? What would a delayed but genuine yes look like this week?
God created and recreated us in Christ for good works. What need—in your home, church, workplace, neighborhood, or community—has God helped you notice lately? What is one realistic thing you could do? [38:25]
Think about a time you failed to speak up, serve, give, comfort someone, or act when you had an opportunity. How does the promise that it is “not too late” invite you to respond differently now? [39:33]
What helps you tell the difference between speaking truth with courage and speaking harshly just to win an argument? How can this group encourage one another toward both truth and mercy?
Where might your life have “leaves”—good intentions, religious language, or outward activity—without the fruit God is seeking? What practice could help your actions more clearly match your faith?

Sermon Clips

49s

“When there is injustice or prejudice or cruelty and it is unpopular or even dangerous to speak up, do we say what is true or do we say what is safe? Which again is usually silence. Our silence implies what the religious leaders have said. I don't know. I don't know what's right or wrong. I don't know it's my responsibility to speak up and speak out about injustice. When we don't speak and act for justice and mercy on behalf of those who are marginalized and disempowered, then we are big trees without any fix.”

37s

“We should see the world differently than we would without our faith, without the Holy Spirit residing inside of us. We should remember that our baptism includes the pouring out and over and into us God's presence and promises, but also our commission, Our commission to be part of God's mission of justice and mercy in the world. We are called to see what can be made better and do what we can to change it, to do God's will in our homes, our churches, our community, and in the world.”

33s

“We may have been slow to hear and obey God's call. We may have even told God no when God called, like I did when God first called me to do this. We may not have spoken up when we should have, stepped forward to serve when we could have, contributed what we could have to the church or to some other worthy cause or to a needy person. We may not have consoled and comforted someone hurting when we had the chance. But it's not late.”

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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church - Frederick, MD This sermon · AI assistant

What does faithful obedience require beyond words?

Why can silence become a failure of purpose?

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