Written By: Kirk Peterson
God
of Mystery
When I first read the scripture, “Many of those who are
least now will be first then, and many of those who are first now will be last
then”, it was something that was very mysterious
to me. We believe in a God of mystery
and the Lord has showed us over and over throughout time that His ways are not
man’s ways.
Recently my two young sons’ have been wrestling around
quite a bit more and started down the fun path of brotherly infighting, one I
know all too well from my childhood with my own brother. Whether it’s who gets to open the door first,
or play with the first toy, their time together has become quite a little
competition. It’s amazing to me that the
desire to be first is part of all of us at such a young age? Even the disciples fought amongst themselves,
not only about who is the greatest, but as the time for Jesus’ exodus at the
cross was nearing, the mother of James and John even came to ask Jesus if her
sons’ could receive a place of honor next to Christ when He comes to establish
His kingdom. (Matthew 20:20-28)
God’s
Way
Our current system here in the United States, is entirely
built on striving to be first. Our way
of life here in America all starts with the innate desire for people to be
first and acquire wealth. However, our
Father in Heaven, the Great Authority over all creation tells us that is NOT
His way. The apostle Paul spoke about
how God’s way goes against the way of the world using those things that are
considered small and unimportant, and Jesus Himself tells us in his prayer of
thanksgiving to The Father, His way is good shielding the truth from those that
are arrogant and bestowing the truth to those with humble hearts.
God’s
Character
As I was studying Matthew 20 this week in bible study, I
was blown away by how our God always practices what he
preaches. So many times in the world
Christians are told to practice what we preach, and so many times we fall short…We
all
fall short because we can never live up to the glorious standard of our
Creator. As Christ said, there has only
been One who is good. Our very character
as humans can never live up to perfect righteousness & holiness, and God revealed
His plan for our redemption through his perfect
Son Jesus, laying down His life to die as a ransom in our place.
17Whatever
is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the
lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. (James
1:17, NLT)
8Jesus
Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8, NLT)
Isn't it AWESOME that we have a God that always
practices what He preaches? His character has been the same, from the beginning
to the end--He is CONSTANT. He shows us His very character is that of what He teaches in His holy
word & God's love never fails! The Almighty One has forever been a friend
to the oppressed and to the least of us, not loving them more, but showing
compassion on those in the greatest need. Many of the least of us will be the
greatest in the age to come, and many of those that are great now will be the least
then. (Matthew 20:1-16)
Teacher
God’s love is perfect.
In fact, the very definition of perfection should start and end with
God. God tells us how to live in His
bible and The Holy Spirit revealed to me this week how incredible it is, that
God’s very character IS that of what he teaches. How encouraging it is to me a believer in the
One True God, to see that the greatest of all teachers is forever constant in
His character.
So, if God’s character is constant and that of what he teaches
us in His bible, maybe we should listen? I love how my pastor says that we need to
talk to God & we need to listen to God.
How do we do that you may ask? Well,
you can talk to God right now by praying to him, and you can listen to God
right now by reading his holy word.
Have you talked to God today? Have you listened to God today?
Parable
of the Vineyard Workers
1“For
the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to
hire workers for his vineyard. 2He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent
them out to work. 3“At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the
marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. 4So he hired
them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day.
5So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he
did the same thing. 6“At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and
saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been
working today?’ 7“They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’ “The landowner told
them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’ 8“That evening he told
the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last
workers first. 9When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a
full day’s wage. 10When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed
they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. 11When they
received their pay, they protested to the owner, 12‘Those people worked only
one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all
day in the scorching heat.’ 13“He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been
unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? 14Take your money
and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. 15Is it against the
law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am
kind to others?’ 16“So those who are last now will be first then, and those who
are first will be last.” (Matthew 20:1-16, NLT)
God's love never fails!
The Almighty One's character is constant and that of His holy word. May the peace of Christ bring rest to your
souls.
See
Meredith Andrew’s, “Not for a Moment” here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoh26pC2RT8
