What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, “Yes, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did his father’s will? They answered, “The first.”
Matthew 21:28-31a
Jesus tells a parable to the religious leaders about two sons who are asked to do work by their father. The first son refuses but then has a change of mind and a change of heart and obeys his father. The second son says “yes” but then ignores his father’s command. Jesus asks the leaders which of the two sons obeyed his father. The leaders correctly answer, the first son.
In this parable, Jesus is teaching about repentance, which simply means a change of mind that leads to a change in action. People can change and repent just as the first son did and it is not our place to simply write them off.
Is there someone you know who is far from God? Pray today for him or her. Pray they will have a change of mind and start saying “yes” to God.