Pam Padgett ... teacher
Jesus taught the following ...
28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to
the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. 29 He answered
and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 30 And he
came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go,
sir: and went not. 31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father?
They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto
you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God
before you. 32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and
ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and
ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe
him. (Matthew 21:28)
Jesus gave the parable of the man who told each of his two sons to go
work in his vineyard. Jesus compared the son who actually did the work, doing the will of his father, to
the publicans and harlots who believed the word of God that John the
Baptist spoke.
This reminds me that our work is to believe the word that God gives us. Jesus said ...
27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat
which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give
unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.28 Then said they unto him,
What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus
answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on
him whom he hath sent. (John 6)
Our work is to believe the word God gives to us. And when we believe,
our lives will be changed in some way. Our thinking and actions will be
conformed to that word.
It takes work to believe. The devil tries to cause us to doubt the
word, or tries to pervert the word, with lies and deception. Our flesh
tries to pull us in the ways of the world which are not according to the
word of God. We allow God to establish that the word is from Him, and
then we cling to that word, fighting with those things God gives us to
keep us in the way of His word. We labor to enter into the rest that is
by faith ... believing the word of God ....
Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us
of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2
For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word
preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that
heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he
said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest:
although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For
he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God
did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5 And in this place again,
If they shall enter into my rest. 6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that
some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered
not in because of unbelief: 7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying
in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will
hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 8 For if Jesus had given them
rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There
remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is
entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God
did from his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any
twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and
spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts
and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not
manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes
of him with whom we have to do.