Good day dear friends.
As we pray this morning please be in prayer for Peg as she undergoes tests for breast cancer. Also, my wife Nellie, is undergoing a stress test today at 1 p.m.
A joy! My dad's electricity came on yesterday afternoon (Finally!) and he was most happy. Please continue to pray for those in Ike's path that still await electricity and other necessities.
For today we'll be reading Matthew 20:1-16. Here is that text from Matthew 20:1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 When he went out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; 4 and he said to them, "You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went. 5 When he went out again about noon and about three o'clock, he did the same. 6 And about five o'clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, "Why are you standing here idle all day?' 7 They said to him, "Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, "You also go into the vineyard.' 8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, "Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.' 9 When those hired about five o'clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. 10 Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. 11 And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12 saying, "These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' 13 But he replied to one of them, "Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? 14 Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?' 16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last."
In most big cities there are areas where day laborers can gather to await being hired for the day. Those needing workers will pull up, usually in a pickup truck, get out, explain what type of worker they are looking for, and most, if not all of those looking for work will hold up their hands and say, "Me! Me!" The person looking for the workers will choose those s/he believes will do the best work and chooses them and they pile into the back of the truck and off they drive. Times have not changed since Jesus' day. The parable told by Jesus spoke of those who needed work and the one who needed workers. The man needing workers hired a group at nine in the morning and off they went to work. He did the same at noon, at three o'clock and finally again at five. All hired to do the same work in the same vineyard. When it came time to pay them, all were paid the same. Those who were hired first at nine a.m. received the same pay as those hired at 12,3, and 5. By human standards that's not fair, as those nine o'clockers pointed out. In reality they were right; they had worked more hours and perhaps produced more than those hired at the other hours.
But Jesus' story was not about human pay, it was about the kingdom of heaven as he pointed out in verse one. God needs workers and will put to work those who want to work whether they come to Him at 9 years of age or 90 years young. To God it matters not the age of when we first believe but whether after our belief we started to work for Him or not. Our churches are full of those who have been sitting on the premises rather than standing on the promises, who have done nothing for God. Well, if you consider grumbling and griping, some do a lot... but for the good of the Kingdom of Heaven what have they done? More importantly, what have you done?
The very least we can do is to invite someone to come and be a part of our church family. It does not take a fancy invitation, rather a loving invitation to those without a church home to "come and check out my church." We may be surprised what blessings will be ours to enjoy as we see the changes in our lives and especially in the lives of those who do not yet know the Lord.
The very least we can do is to invite someone to come and be a part of our church family. It does not take a fancy invitation, rather a loving invitation to those without a church home to "come and check out my church." We may be surprised what blessings will be ours to enjoy as we see the changes in our lives and especially in the lives of those who do not yet know the Lord.
PRAYER: Loving God, may my days be spent doing good for the kingdom of Heaven. I ask You forgive me for the days I've done little or nothing. Help me to be the person You've called me to be. I ask this in Christ Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.
