Transformed – teen devotion – October 1, 2023

One truth shared: Being right with God isn’t about saying the right things and going through the motions. Being right with God is about knowing that Jesus accomplished it all for us. This leads us to respond with love of our own.

“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.
Matthew 21:28-31a

Walk the Walk

“He can talk the talk, but can he walk the walk?”

Words are useless unless they are backed up by action. If you had a boyfriend of girlfriend who told you they love you, that would feel pretty good. However, if they turn around and talk poorly about you to their friends or speak to you in a demeaning manner, they don’t really love you. Words must be backed up by action.

Jesus illustrated this point in a parable. There was a father who told both of his sons to go and do some work in the vineyard. The first son told him he wasn’t going to do it, but on second thought, he went and did the work asked of him. The second son told him that he would do it, but then he never actually went. Which of the sons showed their father that they loved him? Well, it was the first son who showed his love through action. So, which son are you?

We look a lot like the first son. He said “No, father, I won’t go and work as your son.” You and I can probably think of times when we have blatantly said, “No” to our heavenly Father. “No, I’m not going to forgive that person.” “No, I am not going to clean up my language and life.” “No, I’m going to live the way I want to live, and no one is going to tell me otherwise.” But other times, you and I act just as phony as the second son. We say, “Yes” to our heavenly Father, but our words lack action.

Jesus is the perfect Son. He didn’t just say that he loved us. He showed that he loved us through his suffering and death on the cross. He showed that he would go to any means necessary to give us eternal life. There has never been any love greater than this.

Jesus wants us to respond to his love with love of our own. He wants us to love him and love our neighbor.

This doesn’t mean we just say the right words or go through the motions. We show our love through our actions.

We show our love for God by making time to worship him on Sunday mornings and by following his commandments. We show our love for our neighbor by helping them when they are in need and picking them up when they are down.

When it comes to loving God and others, don’t just talk the talk. Walk the walk. Jesus walked the greatest walk ever for you.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for loving me. Help me to always show my love for you and for my neighbor. Amen.