Explores God's call to all, the rewards of faith, and the lavish grace of salvation.
Good morning, dear friends. It's truly a blessing to be gathered here in the presence of our God, ready to immerse ourselves in the beautiful tapestry of His Word. We are here to open our hearts and minds to the divine wisdom that He has so generously laid out for us in Scripture.
Today, we turn our attention to the Gospel of Matthew, specifically chapter 20, verses 1-16. This passage, like a diamond, has many facets, each reflecting a different hue of God's love and grace. It is a passage that speaks to us about the call of Jesus, the rewards of faith, and the grace of salvation.
In this passage, we see a vivid depiction of God's kingdom, where the call to follow Jesus is extended to all, where faith is rewarded, and where grace is lavishly bestowed.
The call of God is not a passive, one-time invitation: It's an active, ongoing beckoning. He is always reaching out to us, always inviting us to come and work in His vineyard. He doesn't wait for us to come to Him, but He goes out to find us. He meets us where we are, in our idleness, in our confusion, in our despair. He sees us standing in the marketplace of life, doing nothing, and He tells us, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
Who’s His call for?: God's call is not just for the religious, for the righteous, for the holy. It's for everyone. It's for the sinners, for the outcasts, for the lost. It's for those who are standing idle in the marketplace of life, doing nothing. God doesn't call us because we are worthy or deserving. He calls us because He is merciful and loving. He calls us not because of who we are, but because of who He is.
How they earned wages: The workers in this passage didn't earn their wages by their merit or by their hard work. They earned their wages by responding to the call of the landowner. They didn't negotiate their pay. They didn't bargain with the landowner. They simply accepted his offer and went to work in his vineyard. This is a picture of how we respond to God's call. We don't earn our salvation by our good deeds or by our religious observance. We receive our salvation by responding to God's call, by accepting His offer of grace, by going to work in His vineyard.
The landowner in this passage is a benefactor: He doesn't just give his workers their wages, but he gives them more than what they deserve. He gives them a full day's pay, even though some of them worked only for an hour. This is a reflection of God's generosity, of His grace, of His mercy. He doesn't give us what we deserve, but He gives us more than what we deserve. He doesn't reward us according to our works, but He rewards us according to His grace.
God's call is not a burden, but a blessing: It's not a demand, but a gift. It's not a chore, but a privilege. When we respond to God's call, we are not just working for Him, but we are working with Him. We are not just serving Him, but we are sharing in His work, in His mission, in His kingdom. We are not just earning our wages, but we are enjoying our inheritance. We are not just laborers in His vineyard, but we are sons and daughters in His family.
As we continue to reflect on this passage, let's consider the workers who were hired at different times of the day ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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