Today's Word
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Our Lord is so good, He grants us many blessings. We can see Him in the daily course of events, in our homes, our jobs, our lives. I pray that these words help you to grow in your faith and recognize His hand in even the most mundane circumstances.
The picture to the right is of a Celtic Chapel located in Cornwall England. This building is approximately 1700 years old, and contains a holy well known for its healing powers.
(Click for enlarged)
“‘Hear another parable. There was a man who was a master of a household who planted a vineyard, set a hedge about it, dug a wine press in it, built a tower, leased it out to farmers, and went into another country. When the season for the fruit came near, he sent his servants to the farmers to receive his fruit. The farmers took his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first; and they treated them the same way. But afterward he sent to them his son, saying, “They will respect my son.” But the farmers, when they saw the son, said among themselves, “This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and seize his inheritance.” So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard, then killed him. When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?’ They told him, ‘He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will lease out the vineyard to other farmers who will give him the fruit in its season.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Did you never read in the Scriptures, “The stone which the builders rejected was made the head of the corner. This was from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes”? Therefore I tell you, God’s Kingdom will be taken away from you and will be given to a nation producing its fruit. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but on whomever it will fall, it will scatter him as dust.’ When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke about them. When they sought to seize him, they feared the multitudes, because they considered him to be a prophet.’” Matthew 21:33-46, WEB
It has been “Christmas in July” on the romantic movie stations, with replays of Christmas movies from over the years. There have even been a few new movies. It is probably not necessary to give a synopsis of any of the films, because as detractors say, “They are all the same.” Oh, names are changed, roles are reversed, circumstances are different, but in the end, everything turns out happily ever after when the main characters finally kiss. They may follow a formula, but I love to watch them. It helps in stressful times to have a place to escape, even if it is only for a couple hours.
I thought of today’s scripture while watching one of the new movies a few weeks ago. The back story of the main female character is that she hated her ex-boyfriend because he did something to nearly ruin her father’s craft beer establishment. He was also a bar owner. She was a ski champion who left home to follow her talent, and finally returned home after the death of her father to help run the bar. The ex-boyfriend still loved her and thought they could restore their relationship since she was home. Meanwhile, the girl met the boy who would become her love interest. He represented a major beer company and was working with her ex. The ex-boyfriend became jealous of their relationship and tried to win her from him. His quest to win her back led him to do something that would destroy her father’s business, somehow thinking it would convince her to return to him. He thought he deserved her love and thought his actions would earn him her love again.
In today’s passage, Jesus describes a landowner (God) who built a vineyard (Israel) and left the vineyard under the care of tenants (the chief priests and elders). When the landowner came to take possession of the fruit that was rightly his, the tenants killed the servants (the prophets of God). More servants were sent and killed. Then the landowner sent his son (Christ) because He thought the tenants would recognize his authority. They did not give the son the respect due and even killed him, hoping to gain possession of the inheritance.
I never understood the attitude of the farmers in today’s passage from Matthew. How could they ever think that destroying the son would make the father give them the son’s inheritance? How could the ex-boyfriend ever think that destroying the girl’s life would make her love him again? Why do villains think their villainy will gain them what they want from those they have hurt? They have twisted justice and righteousness to the point of being upside down.
The chief priests and elders refused to acknowledge Jesus was the Messiah. They didn’t accept the word of the prophets sent before Jesus. Their self-centeredness and greed led to the same end of all God’s servants: death. Did the farmers (the chief priests and elders) really think that the landowner (God) would leave them to their scheming and violence? Though the story has a sad ending, there is hope. With God there is always hope. We know that God is near even when He feels far away. We need to remember that we are just like those farmers, thinking we deserve what God has promised even when we refuse to accept His Word.
By the time of Jesus, the faithlessness of God’s people came in the form of self-righteousness. They believed that they were guarded and protected by God, that He would provide all they needed. But they expected this to be true not because God was good but because they thought they were. The watchtower was their own interpretation of the Law, the wall was their heritage. They thought they were good because they relied on their own abilities. They did not see how they had turned from God or how they had rejected Him. The leaders had allowed even the Temple to become corrupt.
We don’t understand the attitude of the ex-boyfriend or the farmers, but we are just like them. We go our own way and think that we deserve the blessings of God based on our work rather than God’s grace. We are called to look to God, to live in faith, and to trust that He will provide all we need. We are called to give to God everything He deserves, our praise and thanksgiving, our hands and our lives, glorifying Him in the world by sharing the fruit of His Kingdom.
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“But don’t forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not wishing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness, looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” 2 Peter 3:8-13, WEB
I went to downtown San Antonio with a friend recently. We visited the Alamo and then went to lunch on the Riverwalk. We visited the Ralston Family Collections Center where the Phil Collins collection is on display. The center includes a Battle of the Alamo Diorama featuring narration by Phil Collins telling the story of the final hours of the heroes of the Alamo. We hadn’t seen one another for a few months, so we lingered over lunch, catching up on our lives. We finally headed back to our car after a few hours. We were parked in a lot that charged per hour, the rate beginning from the moment you get the ticket, each new hour beginning with the first minute. We were parked for four hours and one minute. That one minute cost me an extra $5.00.
American novelist Sarah Desson is quoted as saying, “Everything, in the end, comes down to timing. One second, one minute, one hour could make all the difference.” I have heard stories about people who were frustrated to be stopped by a red light, only to discover that they probably missed being part of a fatal accident a minute down the road. After 9/11, many people revealed the amazing reasons why they were not in the World Trade Center at the moment the planes hit. The bus was running late. They got stuck in traffic. They turned back to their homes to kiss their children good-bye.
There is a garden in Oklahoma City remembering those whose lives changed in just a minute on April 19, 1995, when a domestic terrorist bombed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. The garden is filled with symbolism. There is an old tree which is called “the Survivor Tree” because it has survived destruction several times, including the bombing. There is a field of chairs, one for each person who died that day. The chairs are on a grassy hill, right where the building once stood. The chairs have the names engraved and are lined up according to where the people were when they died. Most of the chairs for the children were on the second floor, and those tiny chairs are a constant reminder of the innocence that was lost that day.
In the center of the garden is a reflecting pool where the street once ran in front of the building. At either end of the pool are gateways. One says 9:01; the other says 9:03. The significance of this part of the garden is to recognize how much can happen in just one minute of time. The bombing occurred at 9:02, and lives were lost and changed forever in that one minute. Though just a minute, it must have seemed like an eternity.
Everything happens so quickly these days, doesn’t it. News is instantaneous. Children are growing up too fast. We can microwave a cup of coffee in a minute and cook a turkey in less than an hour. We are living in the fast lane of life, moving quickly from one thing to another. Ideas change like the wind because new information can be passed from person to person in seconds. There have even been many changes within the body of Christ. New ideas, new doctrines, new ways to live our faith are coming into the open faster than we can study them. It is so easy in our haste to fall for cults and cult-like teachings that are flooding the airwaves. People are so desperate for answers, they easily turn to new ideas hoping that they will find the answers they seek. It seems to be happening so fast, beyond our control.
We know in our hearts that many of the changes that seem to be happening in minutes are not good for our world or our faith. Everything is happening too fast; we don’t have time to discern, to pray, to understand, to see the impact that those changes will have on others. Change is not always bad, sometimes it is very good, but we should not force change for the sake of change. That extra minute at the parking garage may have cost me a few extra dollars, but I’ll never know if that minute might have made a difference in another way. That one minute in Oklahoma City brought chaos, destruction, and grief to many and though it is impossible to find anything possible about that moment, we know that God can make good come out of the most horrific circumstances. The lives saved on 9/11 remind us that even a minute can make a difference. Sometimes we need just one more minute.
God is always faithful. God will fulfill His promises to us no matter what changes occur in our lives. Those promises are made for all people, though some today do not yet believe. The patience of God means salvation for at least some because God does not desire anyone to die. He gives them time to repent, to trust in Him. He also gives us time to be His witnesses in the world. Walk in faith today, knowing that one minute of your life living according to God’s promise can make changes for good and bring life rather than death to this world, trusting that God is doing something amazing even if you never see it happen.
The following links provide some specially chosen scripture that tell the stories of the Birth and Passion of our Lord as Saviour Jesus Christ, as well as a fictional perspective of the Crucifixion. Spend time in God's Word, read about His life and learn of the wonderful gifts He has for you. Know Jesus Christ and honour Him today. Thanks be to God.
The Story of our Saviour's Passion
The Crucifixion, a fictional perspective
When researching, I use several versions of the bible, including the New International Version and English Standard Version. Due to copyright restrictions, I have not included quotes for the scriptures on some of the archives, but highly encourage you to open your own bibles to read the scripture passages for yourselves. Where scripture is quoted, it is usually the American Standard Version or World English Bible which belong to the public domain. Any other versions used in quotes are identified.
The devotion posted on Wednesday is based on the Lectionary texts used by millions of Christians each Sunday. The Lectionary consists of four texts: an Old Testament passage, a Psalm, a passage from one of the Epistles and a Gospel text and follows the church calendar. Archives for these writings are found at Midweek Oasis.
You are welcome to use these words to share the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. Please remember to give credit to the Author who has given you these gifts, and keep in remembrance the vessel which He used to bring them to you. We pray that this site may be a blessing to you and anyone with whom you've shared it. Peggy Hoppes
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