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April 11-15, 2022

Reflections from Matthew 20

Accepting Grace

April 14, 2022 • Joan Lonsway

God gives grace, even when rejected. Paul Graves, in the "Spokesman Review", had this to say about rejecting grace: "I’m extremely amused and angered by some religious teachings about grace, like ‘God’s grace is a gift – all we need to do is unwrap it.’ That’s cute, but there is more to it. Unwrapping the grace gift implies we accept it. What about people who cannot bring themselves to accept God’s grace at a certain moment? God’s grace is still God’s grace whether we accept it or not. Its presence in our lives doesn’t depend on whether we recognize it or not, or even whether we accept it or not. If there are requirements attached to your understanding of God’s grace, please reconsider whose idea of grace you’re considering. It isn’t God’s. God welcomed all persons. God’s grace is a no-strings welcome into a loving, accepting, nurturing relationship with God. Any requirements to that welcome were conceived by the church’s forefathers/mothers and encouraged by too many Christians today." Everything God gives us is by His grace. Through faith, every Christian gains far more blessings than they could ever imagine. Take time today to thank God for the many ways He has graced your life.

The Offense of Grace

April 13, 2022 • Joan Lonsway • Matthew 20:1–16

Now that we’ve talked about grace, let’s take a closer look at the parable of the landowner and the workers. The landowner represents God whose grace and mercy are shed abundantly upon those of His choosing. It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. The first group of workers in the vineyard resented receiving the same wage as the last group. Their attitude was similar to that of the Pharisees, who were incensed at Jesus’ teaching that others could inherit a heavenly kingdom they thought was reserved for them alone. They despised Jesus for offering the kingdom to poor, oppressed, weak sinners whom He made equal to them. In Matthew 20:15, the landowner asks, “Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?” In the same way, as Christians, we should rejoice when others come to the Savior, as we should rejoice in the service others render to Him. He is faithful to reward us for our service as He has promised, and how He rewards others should be of no consequence to us, nor should it affect our devotion to Him. Be thankful for those whom God graces with His love and salvation. God loves us equally and it’s our duty to love each other in the same way.

The Surprise of Grace

April 12, 2022 • Joan Lonsway • Matthew 20:1–16, 1 Corinthians 15:10

What is Grace? Webster says grace is unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration (spiritual renewal) or sanctification. Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:10 says: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” God gives grace to those who are in need and who humbly come to Him for help. His grace supplies us with the power to serve, preach the gospel, and endure suffering, persecution, and hardship. It is a gift, a blessing to be cherished and used to God’s glory. God’s grace and generosity surprises us. All believers receive the full benefits of God’s glorious salvation solely because of His undeserved grace. This applies to every believer throughout time—young, old, followers of Jesus when He was alive, and those who follow Him today. All are equally sinners, and equally receive God’s matchless grace through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. No one can earn salvation, no matter how much or how long they work toward it. The rewards for Christian service may differ, but the benefits of eternal salvation are the same for all. Take time today to thank God for the grace He has given us to grow in His Word and for the gift of our salvation.

Grace in the Old Testament?

April 15, 2022 • Joan Lonsway

If you are still unsure about what grace looks like, here are seven examples of grace from the Old Testament. 1. Salvation for Noah and his family – Noah was not a perfect man, yet God chose to save his family from destruction. 2. Abraham and Sarah – Abraham and Sarah’s lives were marked at times with disbelief and disobedience, yet God remained faithful to His promise. 3. Joseph – God used difficult and trying circumstances to position Joseph as the savior of his family. 4. Moses – God chose to listen and walk with a man who, in his youth, killed another with his bare hands. 5. The Israelites – The Israelites repeatedly rebelled against God, yet He graciously rescued them and gave them what he promised. 6. Rahab – a prostitute who confessed her belief in God, and He showed mercy to her and her family. 7. David – David lusted, stole, fornicated, lied, and killed—yet God saw his heart and loved him. Those are just a few of many examples. We are all shaped by God’s grace. Why don’t you share your grace story with others...

A Parable About Grace

April 11, 2022 • Joan Lonsway • Matthew 20:1–16

Matthew 20:1-16 is the parable of the landowner who paid his workers the same salary no matter what time of day they started working. This disgruntled several of those who had worked all day. Let’s look at this situation from a human point of view. Workers during that time usually received a denarius for a day’s work and that is what each worker received from the landowner. The method for hiring at that time was to go to the marketplace and select from those seeking employment, the ones who had the skills to do the job. Some men hung around all day without being hired, while others were hired immediately because of their particular skills. The men who were hired first were extremely fortunate not to suffer the stress of wondering all day if they would get work. But they didn’t look at it that way. Instead, they were jealous of the ones who came later and received the same pay. I feel these men weren’t looking at the “big picture.” If they did their work without complaining, they would have a better chance of being hired for the long term. How would you react if you worked all day and someone, who worked only two hours, received the same pay? Would you take it with good “grace” or would you complain and refuse to work for that particular landowner again? Tomorrow we’ll talk about the true meaning of this parable – GRACE.