The Son

He began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, and leased it to tenants, and went to another country for a long time. When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants in order that they might give him his share of the produce of the vineyard; but the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Next he sent another slave; that one also they beat and insulted and sent away empty-handed. And he sent still a third; this one also they wounded and threw out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ But when the tenants saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, ‘This is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance may be ours.’ So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Heaven forbid!”
                                                                        Luke 20:9-16 NRSV

The tenants refused to give a portion of their harvest to the landlord to pay the rent. They assaulted the collection agents, so the landlord sent his son thinking they might respect his son. Yeah, right! They rejected the son, too. They killed the son! They killed him thinking that they would then receive the land as their inheritance. It just doesn't work that way.

God sent many prophets to help guide the people in loving and serving the Lord. They didn't want to hear it. They wanted what they wanted. They killed the prophets. God sent his only begotten Son. We killed him, too. Rejecting the Son doesn't get us what we want. It doesn't earn us any inheritance. In the end, anyone who rejects the Son will be crushed.

There is only one way to the Kingdom of God, into the inheritance promised by the Father through the Son and that is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

God's Peace - Pr. J 

A Better Plan?

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matt 4:4 NIV)

Today is one of those days when we really have to turn to the Lord and hear His promises! We must trust that He has a better plan and that it is a good plan.

My son was to close on a home today. It took a bit to find one that they liked and could afford. However, it does not look like that will happen. The seller has decided that she wants an additional $2500.00 to move out; $530.00 to pay what she would still owe after the closing; and seven additional days after closing to actually move out. That is an additional agreement outside of the original purchase agreement. Unfortunately, she has told so many stories that it is impossible to believe that she will actually move out after the additional days and it would take months to evict leaving my son and his family without a home themselves for four months. In fact, they have already turned in their notice to their present landlord and in about 3 weeks they will not have a home themselves unless they find something they can afford very quickly! The seller has made it clear since foreclosure is imminent on her home that she has nothing to lose if the additional terms are not agreed upon. She will lose her home either way. 

Man cannot live on bread alone; but, we cannot live without it either. But, life throws all kinds of unexpected curved balls at us and the only way we can either dodge or catch them to make the run is to trust in every word that comes from the mouth of God.

So today we are trusting that God has a good plan; an even better plan for my son and his family.

God's Peace - Pr. J