“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place; and to those he said, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ And so they went. Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same thing. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he *said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day long?’ They *said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He *said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’
“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard *said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first.’ When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius. When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’ But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’ So the last shall be first, and the first last.”(Matthew 20:1-16)
Lord Jesus, Your generosity is amazing to the extreme. “For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.” (John 1:16). You give us gift after gift. The extravagance of your generosity, your grace, troubled those in the passage above, and at times it troubles me. There is nothing “fair” about your generosity.
Because we do not earn it, we receive it. Yes, this amazing generosity of God’s came at an extreme price, The scourging, crucifixion, and death of Jesus. But that price was paid for me not paid by me. Jesus earned it, not me. And all receive the full measure of your love, grace and mercy whether they come to Christ as a child or on their death bed.
Does that bother you? Do you think somehow you still deserve more?
It was not until I was 34 years old that I fell in love with Jesus.
Oh I heard of Jesus and knew of Jesus all my life. Parents were Roman catholic and active in their church. I was baptized as an infant, all that is good. I learned to stand up, sit, and kneel to Jesus, however I never knew Jesus.
So what I call my BC days, ( the period of my life Before Christ) was not good. I was a user of people, user of women, user of drugs, selfish…list goes on.
But when I fell in love with Jesus, and I raised my hand and received him as my Lord, It may have been the “9th hour” as in the passage I read from Matthew But the gates of heaven opened up, my Father in Heaven declared, “This is my son in which I am well pleased.” I received the gift of eternal life in the eternal embrace of love of the Father. And I received the complete out pouring of generosity and grace of God. Not in part but in full!
And his generosity goes over and above what we imagine or deserve.
I said I was a user of people and a user of women. However, God did not with hold from me anything, but he gave me a beautiful woman named Nancy to be my wife. And then to rub more grace and generosity in my face, he gave me two beautiful daughters, Paris and Mialn.
I was selfish and a user, but he broke my heart for him and for people, and gave me servants heart and that of a giver, and because of that I cant begin to name the generous gifts I have received! All the amazing people that have looked at me with love and I have been so blessed to have crossed my path in life! My house, my family, my career, my life, all a gift! I did not earn it, Just because I say “I worked hard for it” does not mean I deserve it.
My family, I pray this morning you remember that no matter what time in your life, early or late, you entered the vineyard of Lord, it was out of the generosity of Jesus that He sought you out and saw you first. That He chose you. That He made known to You the very heart of the Father. That you are called out of a heart of worship to go into the market places, and love those you encounter there and bear fruit. In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
Partner with us as the year begins!
As we begin the year, if you have the ability to be generous, I invite you tp partner with me, my wife, and One Direction Community to support our ministries of pouring completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods, and having “boots on the ground” serving in our community.. Please pray over our ministries and outreaches into our community. We would be so grateful for your one time gift or monthly support. Thank you!
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