In Matthew 21: 28-32, Jesus tells the story of the man who had two sons.  He went to the first and said, “Go to the vineyard.” And the son said, “I will not.” But afterward, he regretted it and went.  Then the father went to the second son and said the same.  That son said, “I’ll go.”  But he didn’t.  Then Jesus said, “Which one of the sons did the will of his father?”  [the Pharisees] said, “The first.”

Then Jesus tells the Pharisees that the sinners will get into heaven before them because the sinners BELIEVED what John the Baptist preached and were changed; while the Pharisees didn’t believe even after they saw it.  Jesus compared them to the second son, who said the right thing, but didn’t do it.

True obedience is to completely surrender to the will of God for you.  To say, “I’m making a deal with You God.  I’ll do whatever you want me to, and You can do whatever You want to with me.”  This is a minute by minute commitment.  This is getting up every morning and saying, “OK Lord, I’m ready.  Tell me where you want me to go today.  Show me the people you want me to talk to and be with today.  Let me see the adventure of Your Presence in my life, in my comings and goings.  I do not have a plan.  I do not have an agenda.  I do not have a preconceived notion about how I’m supposed to look or act.  “As the servant’s eye is on the hand of his Master, so is my heart stayed on You.” (Psalm 123:2) As God shows me His will, I will do it.