Matthew 20:15 Don't I have the right to do what I want
with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?
Today’s Gospel passage (Matthew 20:1-16) has nothing to
do with workers’ rights, shrewd employers, or salary compensation; it’s all
about the grace of God and how He freely and independently chooses to bestow it
upon anyone that He selects. Grace belongs to God, so when He blesses someone
that we think doesn't deserve it, then we need to ask ourselves this question: who
does deserve God’s grace?
Of course, the honest answer to that question is no one
deserves God’s grace, otherwise it would simply be a meritorious award or an
honorary gift. We all for short of the standards that God expects of us; we all
sin on a daily basis, so if God simply gave His grace to those who deserved it,
no one would experience or know of God’s grace ever again.
It’s because God is gracious that we can begin again each
day with a clean slate. It’s because of God’s grace that we can turn away from
our sin and turn toward His love. It’s because of God’s grace that we can live
our lives not under the fear of judgment and wrath, but with the joy and
gladness that only grace can bring. As the old hymn emphatically states, grace
is absolutely amazing!
Perhaps you still feel guilty about something you did in
the past, or some wrong that you committed which hurt someone else. Maybe you
regret something that you said or did which disappointed God and still makes
you feel ashamed. Perhaps you believe that you cannot be forgiven, so all you
deserve is God’s wrath and eternal punishment for a horrible sin in your life.
To tell you the truth, every Christian feels that way; every church person
knows that reality; every follower of Jesus has experienced those kind of faults
and failures.
However, because God is gracious and because He wants to
give grace, we can all be forgiven and restored, pardoned and accepted of
anything and everything that we have ever said or done. There are no limits to
God’s grace when we come to Him humbly and sincerely seeking His pardon. When
we acknowledge our sinfulness before Him in prayer, He gives to us His grace
through Jesus Christ, His Son and our Savior.
Questions
for personal reflection
What is the biggest regret in my life? Am I willing to
confess it to God, in order to receive His grace?
Prayer: Lord
Jesus, You are the instrument of God’s grace and the channel of His mercy. We
know that we do not deserve such a wonderful and amazing gift. We thank You for
sacrificing Yourself so that we may be given God’s amazing and absolute grace
in our sinful lives. In Your Holy Name, we thankfully pray. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor
of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to make
a comment or ask questions about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.
Today’s image is one of
John’s latest Nativity drawing for kids. It’s called “Babushka Nativity.” If
you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: Nativity.
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