Matthew 22:28-32

"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'
" 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
"Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go.
"Which of the two did what his father wanted?"
"The first," they answered.
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.


We have all had that moment where we were called to do something and we really didn't want to do it. Sometimes we even went so far as telling that person who has called upon us..."NO, not this time." Then as time passes...we see why that response was not the best and we go back and choose to do the thing we rejected in the first place.

The Pharisees in this story were so jealous of Jesus by this time. Jesus had just rode in on the donkey with praises from the people. He walked into the temple and witness the corruption of the money changers...and turned over the tables and threw them all out of the House of God. The Pharisees and religious leaders of the day were looking for any way they could to have Jesus arrested to be done with him.

Then Jesus tells the story of the 2 sons. One who said no, I will not go into the vineyard and work...then later decides to go. The other says OK, I'll go and never does. Which one are you in the story?

I know I rejected the idea of working in the vineyard at first. And truthfully, I was the seed that was planted on shallow ground. The weeds of life quickly came and choked out the roots and it never grew to it's full potential. Even though that seed was dormant for years...it found a day when the rain came and it was germinated into life again. This time it found the ability to grow and produce fruit. It's roots grew deep into the soil and a stronger tree is the product of the life giving rain that came.

Sometimes my tree experiences drought, high winds, hail, and bitter cold. But with the roots deep into the ground...the Word of God...it always comes through the storms. Sometimes it might loose a branch or too. Sometimes the leaves are shed from the hail...but there is always a day when the Son's shine and His healing waters come...the tree quickly recovers and new leaves are plentiful again. Flowers bud and their smell is fragrant for all to experience.

This is my work in the vineyard. To share God's love and redeeming grace with others. "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. John 15:4"

Please dear sisters and brothers in Christ "let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions." (NLT)1John 3:18

Be a part of the work in His vineyard!
Mama Barb