Daily Devotional

Do you remember the yearbook section that highlighted those who stand out for their superlatives? It was an exaggerated way to both recognize and celebrate people. They often say things like: Most Likely to Succeed, Most Likely to Invent the Next iPhone, Best Dressed, or Class Clown. Superlatives like these can set expectations for people who receive them, but what if those expectations feel too high? We may be expected to be the next big innovator or creative influencer, but all of that may seem like too much. In the midst of all that pressure, I’ve learned that I’d rather simply be known as the Most Likely to Follow Through.
 
In the story Jesus tells, the first son told his father that he would not follow his instructions, but after changing his mind, he did follow through. The other son said he would do what the father requested, but did not. The one who changed his mind, Jesus said, was “righteous,” or faithful, to what his father asked. He was the one who heard what the father was saying and actually did it. As we live for Jesus, like this son, we are called to be people who would follow through on our word. Jesus essentially says, “No matter how spiritual you seem on the outside, the thing that truly matters is following through on how God is calling you to live.”
 
Wise and righteous people are called faithful because they choose to follow through. Yet how many times have we told someone we would pray for them, and then forgotten? Or told a friend that we would text or call them, and never did? Or made plans and canceled without communicating beforehand? More often than I’m ashamed to admit. May we, in our desire to live as God has called us to, be more like the first son than the second. May we start thinking about ourselves as people who follow through on what we say we’ll do? May we act upon our opportunity to be faithful to how God calls us to live as we focus on the follow-through.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.