The Everyday Prayer

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 20:1-16 (day four)

It seems to be a regular theme for Jesus…”So the last shall be first, and the first last.” (v. 16) We find it in Matthew 19:30, Mark 10:31, and Luke 13:30. Each gospel passage where we find this phrase, is a different instance or story…but each story relates to heaven and eternal life. It seems that the life we live on this earth materially, will not always give an accurate picture of our waiting reward in heaven. Many on earth appear to be richly blessed…they have wealth, and influence, and status. Others come from very humble…even impoverished…lifestyles. Some have an enviable, easy life, while others face constant persecution and hardship. It is not the material wealth and blessing that determines eternal life in heaven. Our reward in heaven will be based on our relationship with Jesus Christ. Eternal life is promised for those who give their all to Jesus. Heaven is not earned…whether we ‘work’ long or short, we cannot earn eternal life. It is a gift of grace and mercy from a loving and generous God!

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 20:1-16 (day three)

“Are you envious because I am generous?” If the universe is a meritocracy, it’s only sensible to make sure you gain an edge over others. But if in fact we live by way of mercy, wouldn’t you hope that God is generous to those without a leg up? We are dependent on God’s generosity, which flows from his mercy. Sometimes we might see someone and think, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” It’s a small step, though, from thinking you’re better off to thinking that you’re just better. Perhaps we would train our minds toward Christ if instead we think, “Because of the grace of God, I have no less of God’s attention than that person.”

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 20:1-16 (day two)

Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous? So the last will be first, and the first will be last. 15-16

I did it again this weekend. I was driving through a part of town that I hadn’t explored before and I began coveting. The neighborhood was beautiful. Well manicured trees lined the streets and the houses were all in good repair and very large. My first thought was, why can’t I live here? I work hard, I stay out of debt, I tithe regularly, so why not? I confess, this is something I have always struggled with. I have equated good living and hard work with things. Always, always, I am reminded by the Spirit to have an attitude of gratitude. If God really dealt us what we deserve based on good work or clean living, wouldn’t we all come up pretty short? The truth of the matter is that in my assignment God has ALWAYS provided exceedingly more than I could ever ask or imagine. That will look different for each of us, because each of us has a different role to play. So, I repented, I thanked God for his abundant provision, and I was grateful to be serving the King.

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 20:1-16 (day one)

“These men. . .only worked one hour. . .and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day. “–v 12.

Is God fair?  By our standards, I mean?  Does He rule the universe with an even hand?

Not if you mean EQUAL, He isn’t.  Some people will have harder assignments than others.  Some people will get more talents.  (See Matthew 25)  Some will serve longer.  Some will eat better.

Not if you mean JUSTICE, He isn’t.  Including any of us in His Kingdom goes far beyond justice.  It is mercy!

But, if you mean GENEROUS and KIND and WISE, yes!  His will for each of us is “good and acceptable and perfect.”  (Romans 12:2)  Don’t compare! Trust God!  Receive what He gives you, both assignment and reward. More than fair, God is good.

“If I want HIM to remain until I return, what is that to you?  YOU follow ME.”–John 21:22.

 

 

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 18:21-25 (day seven)

“It is not the will of your Father. . .that one of these little ones perish.  And if your brother sins, go and reprove him. . .if he listens to you, you have gained you brother.”–v 14-15.

I like country music.  Don’t judge me.  Years ago, Trisha Yearwood had a song called, “A Walkaway Joe.”  Mom saw it.  Daughter didn’t.  The boy in question would eventually “walk away”.

Most of us have some of the same tendency. Someone in the church hurts our feelings.  We walk away.  Sin looks attractive.  We wander away, lose interest in Spiritual things.

Christ has instructions for this situation.  Those who love the Lord are to come to us and reprove us and help us and forgive us.  What good is a friendship so brittle that it breaks under tension?

God does not want us to perish.  When we walk away, He searches for us by sending the church.

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 18:21-35 (day six) 

Forgiveness, whether we receive it or give it, springs from the infinite well of grace and mercy dug deep by the death and resurrection of the Son! If that is true, and it is, consider this. As Jesus is teaching his listeners about the nature of the Kingdom of God and forgiveness, he knows that the very basis of that reality hinges or is founded on his death and resurrection. The Father cannot forgive, nor can we, without the tragedy and joy of the Cross!

Our reluctance to forgive, or closeted resentment, is no small thing, it is a rejection of the Gospel, and reaps only separation from God and others. So perhaps, the most practical fruit that the Gospel produces in us is forgiveness!

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 18:21-35 (day five)

The goal for the ride back to Ft. Worth from Odessa, was to see how high I could count. As a little boy, my counting skills were just blossoming.   With dad’s help, I think I surpassed a million. (It was a longer ride for him than for me) Numbers and digits I had never dreamed of were written on my notepad.

When Jesus values the debt at “ten thousand talents”, He’s doing the same kind of thing. It was both the largest amount of currency and the largest numeral known to the Greeks. How much was that?   It was a “ginormous” amount.

I had a college professor who always said, “If you never know how lost you were, you’ll never know how saved you are”. It’s same principle Jesus was teaching. “If you never know how much in debt you were, you’ll never know how forgiven you really are”.

Psalm 130: ³ If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 18:21-35 (day four) 

Bitterness…it can eat you up inside like a cancer! We can avoid bitterness through forgiveness. The Lord knew it…He told Peter to forgive endlessly. When we are unwilling to forgive, bitterness rushes in. It is why Paul, in Ephesians 4:26-27 said, “do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.” Later, in that same chapter, he said, “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (v. 32) Bitterness destroys relationships. No relationship…with God, with a fellow man or woman…none can survive the onslaught of bitterness. The slave in our narrative today was blinded by his unforgiveness. He failed to make the connection between the compassion shown him and the need to pass it on to others. He allowed the devil an opportunity and it did not work out so well for him. Bitterness…put it aside…forgive and put on the character of Christ!

Re: Verse reading—Matthew 18:21-35 (day three)

“Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” The ability to forgive does not come from mustering up the fortitude to forgive, or from trying really hard to forgive, or from reminding yourself that you need to forgive. The ability to forgive, Jesus reveals through the story he tells to Peter, comes from remembering how much you’ve been forgiven. Until you do that, forgiveness lies out of reach. Never forget how much you’ve been forgiven. If you will remember, you can forgive.

Re: Verse reading–Matthew 18:21-35 (day two) 

And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt.28 But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’

I keep dates in my head fairly well, that is I usually do. I find that when I am talking about family things I can recall the dates and times of events without referring to a written calendar. Then, when I am at church I have little trouble recalling dates and events relating to church. Where, I get into trouble is when I am at home planning a family event and I somehow forget there is already a church event scheduled. I know, I know this is easily solved by writing things down! Stay with the analogy for just a moment. We know that we have been forgiven. We have experienced the release of the burden by Jesus’ unconditional pardon. What happens, however, when we have the opportunity to offer grace and forgiveness. Have we placed that ‘calendar’ in another secret part of our brain? God’s forgiveness to us must be the catalyst to begin forgiving others.