The law, grace and truth (7)

Father God, we thank you for the power of Your Word. Your Word is life, Your Word is healing, Your Word is an anchor of hope, Your Word is redemption. Your Word is the essence of our being and a revelation of Your love for us. So we thank you for the gift of Your Word that was made flesh in the name of Jesus. Amen.

In the story of Matthew 21:28-31 (NKJV) is a parable told by Jesus and it reads,

28."But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go, work today in my vineyard.'

29."He answered and said, 'I will not,' but afterward he regretted it and went.

30."Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, 'I go, sir;' but he did not go.

31."Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said to Him, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you."

Amen, thank you LORD.

What is your reading of this parable? Which son was obedient to the Father's will?

When I first read this parable and meditated on it for years, I still could not fully comprehend how Jesus considered the second son as the obedient one to the Father's will. Yes, he agreed to go to work but later on changed his mind unlike the first son who eventually did the father's will despite initially rejecting it.

In John 12:47, Jesus says, "And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him, for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world."

Thanks be to God who has given us the ministry of reconciliation so that we can be one and united with God, the Father again through His Son, Jesus Christ. Friend, when it comes to salvation, God's grace is what qualifies us not our actions or good works and it is important to Jesus that you make it to heaven. The harlots and prostitutes Jesus is speaking about I believe are people who are loved and precious in God's eyes just like everyone else because God has no favorites. However, they may be more likely to recognize their need for a Savior. At times, when one looks at their 'good actions' or to their qualifications, abilities and strength, they may struggle to receive the grace of God. The reality is, no one is good all the time but there is one who is always good, who is the Father God who sent His one and only Son to become sin for us so that we could have right standing with God (2 Corinthians 5:21). When you receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour of your life, it is not about what you have done but what Jesus has done. So when God looks at you, He sees you through the grace He provides to us that is found in His perfect Son, Christ when you receive Him as Lord and Savior of your life. I believe this is mirrored in the second son above.

In the Old Testament is a man called David who was known as a man after God's own heart. David wanted to build God a temple that way God's presence would no longer dwell in a moving tabernacle. At the time, God could not go against His own law, so He told David that he could not build Him a temple since he was a man of war with too much blood on his hands (1 Chronicles 28:3). In hindsight, the law based on the old covenant could not allow David build a temple for the God he loved.

In the New Testament, there is another man, Apostle Paul, with blood on his hands as he had been guilty of persecuting the early church of Jesus. However, he met the grace and love revelation of the Father found in Christ and God used him to edify the church concerning salvation. He also wrote more than half of the New Testament because in Christ, his lawless deeds were completely forgiven and forgotten by God as seen in Hebrews 8:12. The grace of God that Apostle Paul received in Christ Jesus qualified him for God's assignment in which God found expression through him to His church just like he was able to express His love for God because Jesus had not yet physically come to the earth. In 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 NKJV, he says, "For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."

I do not know what you have done, but I know one thing, that God is love and He loves you and His arms are open wide just to receive you. Jesus in Matthew 18:12 says, that He would leave the ninety nine to go find that one lost sheep. There is no need for perfection, only receive God, the Father's grace and love that is found in His Son, Jesus Christ. If this sounds like you today;

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and with God as my loving Father today and forever. Thank you Father that because the Son has made me free, I am now free indeed." AMEN.

HALLELUJAH, GLORY TO GOD, YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD. PLEASE FIND A CHURCH AND GET WATER BAPTIZED!

I encourage you to meditate on this Word found in 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (AMP)

"18.But all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ [making us acceptable to Him] and gave us the ministry of reconciliation [so that by our example we might bring others to Him],

19.that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting people's sins against them [but canceling them]. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation [that is, restoration to favor with God]."

Amen, thank you LORD for the ministry of reconciliation and for restoration to favor with You that we have received in Christ. GLORY TO GOD.