Inheritance

“But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ ”                                                              Matt. 21.38

In the parable, the tenants thought they would benefit by the death of the son. Of course they didn’t, because their evil deed provoked the landowner to take remedial action against them. Thus, in the natural story, killing the son did no good whatsoever.

Likewise, in the Kingdom of Heaven, rejecting the Son will bring negative consequences. On the contrary, what allows us to share in the rich inheritance of eternity is to unite with the Son, to receive Him and thereby join with Him in glorious life for evermore.

I can only come into the vineyard (the Kingdom) with heartfelt thanksgiving and joy that my wonderful God has invited me to join with His Son – to become, through Him, part of this glorious family. And the family is ever growing. There are still many “potential tenants”. They are there for the gathering. I pray that our Lord and Saviour will use me to work in partnership with Him in reaching these people.

Holy God,

I bow before Your righteousness. I am aware of my own unworthiness, but I can receive Your pardon and release to enter the Kingdom as part of Your redeemed family. I rejoice to be with You.

I pray for those who haven’t yet received the blessing of kingdom living. Many I know, and many, many, more are as yet unknown to me. I pray for them all. I ask You to send out workers into the harvest fields. I pray that You would use me. I am willing, Lord, and I would deem it a privilege to reach out to people for You, to bring them into contact with Jesus.

I’m Yours, Lord, for whatever You would have of me. Take me, in Jesus’ name I ask.

                                                                                                                        Amen.

My book “God Talk” is available through major Internet booksellers.

A taste of the book's content can be seen in the You Tube clip (Search: Peter Francis - "God Talk").

Changed

“Son, go and work today in the vineyard.” “I will not,” he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.                                                          Matt. 21.28b, 29

The distinction between the two sons is clear. The first refused his father’s request for help, but later complied. The second son at first said he would help but then did not follow through. The first son pleased the father.

As Jesus tells the story is He, perhaps, saying that we may at first refuse our heavenly Father, but later come to Him?

As I reflect, this is what I have done. In the heady days of “youthful discernment” I left God in order to go my own way. Later, He got hold of me – and changed my life completely!

How amazing is our God! Not only does He wait patiently for us, as the father daily awaited the return of his prodigal son but, just like the parable father, He rejoices extravagantly when we do come back.

I look to enjoying all the time I have with the Father. I like to think He has things for me to do yet, often, I feel just to sit, rest in Him, and simply be. And so, whatever there might be to do, I pray that I can first enjoy the being – and may the doing follow in whatever shape or volume He determines.

Lord God,

I reflect again on obedience. I wish to live in sweet obedience to You. I do not always achieve this, though it does not negate the desire.

To sit with You and simply be in relationship with You would be wonderful. I realise this is ever available to me. I just need to quiet myself and come to You in full surrender.

Surrender and obedience – how alien these words are to today’s society! Yet they are sweet to my ears when considered in respect to You. Receive me, Lord, in surrender and lead me into true obedience. May I ever enjoy relationship with You, in Jesus name I ask.                                   Amen.

Questions

Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”                                                              Matt. 21.24

I note a number of times that Jesus responds to a question with a question. It’s an interesting device that arouses my curiosity as to why Jesus would choose to go this way. Is He challenging His questioners to “prove their credentials” by first answering a question from Him? I wonder!

Whatever the reason or motivation, what I pick up on here is Jesus asking questions of us. He may be testing us; He may be simply curious to hear us express ourselves on various topics. Whatever the reason, I doubt that He really needs to enquire of us for I presume He already knows the answer.

In my relationship with Jesus then, I see His asking questions of me as part of our ongoing connection. Irrespective of whether He knows the answer or not, He wishes to communicate, to connect and converse with me.

I wonder what sort of questions He might ask of me – and I wonder at the answers I might be tempted to give!

Lord Jesus,

I am intrigued, and delighted, at the thought of You asking questions of me. These may not necessarily be in response to my questions of You, though this is quite possible. Hopefully they will not be in the same challenging climate that You experienced with the chief priests and elders.

I delight at the opportunity to deepen and enhance my relationship with You. I look forward to whatever questions you may have for me and I pray that I may answer them in all honesty.

May we grow in relationship? Dear Lord, I pray that You would fill me with Your holy presence. Make me fully Yours, that I may be one with You. I ask this in Your precious name.                   Amen.

My book “God Talk” is available through major Internet booksellers.

A taste of the book's content can be seen in the You Tube clip (Search: Peter Francis - "God Talk").

Indignation

But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.                                                                                       Matt. 21.15

The children were gloriously praising Jesus, but the religious leaders were “indignant”.

The single English word “indignant” omits much of the depth of meaning indicated in the Greek. Aganaktéó suggests pain and grief. It is indicative of mental oppression, of deep grief and resentment. There is a marked spiritual significance to the “indignation” of the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They were not merely “put out” as if by a minor offence. They were deeply resentful in spirit concerning this man who claimed to be God.

It’s not difficult to see how the events of the following week unfolded as we consider the absolute rage that these people could have been experiencing to Jesus.

I wonder if similar “indignation” has been behind many of the unfortunate occurrences within the church of Jesus Christ through the ages, where offence has been taken and torment and strife has ensued – to the overall hurt and damage to the body. Well may we cry out to God for protection.

Almighty God,

I come to You in prayer for the church and its preservation.

I bring to You the sins of the people down through the ages. I lay before You all those actions, born of indignation, that have adversely affected the body and caused much damage. I humbly ask for Your forgiveness. Spare us please. Be merciful. Free us from the oppression of the past and strengthen us in this present time to live and act in harmony and unity. May we present to the world the body of Christ as truly as we might.

We need Your help in this. I ask this help on behalf of the church, in Jesus’ name.                                                                                                                                                           Amen.