Matthew 21:29b

"... but afterward he regretted it and went."

This is the second thought, second response of one of two sons called to work in Jesus' parable of the vineyard. Telling the father no, "I will not" work in the vineyard after being commanded to do so, his conscience pricked him and he regretted it. But he didn't stop there and sulk in his poor decision and past disobedience; rather he listened to his heart and changed course. The other son said he'd go and work, but didn't. Who knows what he went and did instead? Jesus draws a distinction between the two; one did the will of the father and the other didn't.

While Jesus' parables are stated/written to draw our attention to the Gospel and the Kingdom, there are also attributes and principles here that capture my attention. The patience of God is one. Also, false pretense fools no one in the end. But regret and doing something about it jumps out at me. Clearly, Jesus is calling men and women to repent of their rejection of Him as Savior and turn toward Him. But what about other sins I've committed against God and man? While I don't need to make restitution for past sins (they're covered by the blood of the Lamb), there are always things that come into my path that I sometimes choose and then regret later. I can think of a few right now. God's grace to me is that I'm forgiven, and His call to obedience is to now turn toward a different course. Today I desire to extend the same grace to those affected by my sinful decision(s) as God granted to me at Calvary. Perhaps it's not too late. My regretful emotion could be God's knock on the door of my heart to turn around and do the right thing, the thing I should have done in the first place.