Our paragraph topic is: (Parable of the laborers in the vineyard) Part 1.
Christ told his disciples what hinders anyone from entering the kingdom of heaven. He gave them examples and details so that everyone would know what to do and what not to do. In this new chapter he gives another example of the kingdom of heaven. He compares the kingdom of heaven to a house-holder.
He tells his disciples: FOR the kingdom of heaven is like a house-holder who went out early in themorning to hire laborers for his vineyard . It is in this comparison that Christ tells his disciples that the kingdom of heaven is like a person who owns property and needs help to maintain it. The house-holder hires laborers to maintain his vineyards and the kingdom of heaven hires laborers to maintain its children. The kingdom of heaven is a living entity. It is God's creation. It has needs that must be met in order for its crop to flourish.
Christ uses this example to further illustrate to his disciples and to us how the kingdom works. He wants us understand. He wants us to know. The kingdom is seeking laborers. The kingdom wants you and me. The kingdom owns the property of God and is looking for those who would work the property for a reward. The doors are open and the laborers are few. The work is plentiful and the harvest is ripe and ready for the picking. Are we willing? Are we ready? Do we have the skills to get the job done? Christ is calling us to come and work with him to get the job done.
Can you go? Can you work? Are you willing to work for the reward that is open to you? We work here on earth for the rewards that are given to us. We are given money that we use to buy the things that we want. Christ calls us to the work in his vineyard. The kingdom of heaven calls us to work in its vineyard. What will be our reward for the work that we do? Will we be given paper money that we can use in the here and now? Will we be given something else that is more precious than paper money? What will that be? What will we receive? What is more precious than the money we get today?
Is life everlasting more precious than paper money? Is life everlasting more valuable than gold, or silver, or diamonds, or any other thing that we hold in high esteem today? The kingdom of heaven calls us, just as the world calls us. Which one will we choose? Some know of the call. Some don't. Some are lost and do not know that they have a choice. Some know that they have the choice and choose not. That decision is ours and ours alone to make. But the call is still there. The kingdom calls, will you answer. The kingdom calls, do you hear. The kingdom calls, will you ignore the call. Christ is waiting. Come! Heed the call and come work in the vineyard for the kingdom of heaven. The reward is greater than anything that you will receive here on earth.
Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.
Christ told his disciples what hinders anyone from entering the kingdom of heaven. He gave them examples and details so that everyone would know what to do and what not to do. In this new chapter he gives another example of the kingdom of heaven. He compares the kingdom of heaven to a house-holder.
He tells his disciples: FOR the kingdom of heaven is like a house-holder who went out early in themorning to hire laborers for his vineyard . It is in this comparison that Christ tells his disciples that the kingdom of heaven is like a person who owns property and needs help to maintain it. The house-holder hires laborers to maintain his vineyards and the kingdom of heaven hires laborers to maintain its children. The kingdom of heaven is a living entity. It is God's creation. It has needs that must be met in order for its crop to flourish.
Christ uses this example to further illustrate to his disciples and to us how the kingdom works. He wants us understand. He wants us to know. The kingdom is seeking laborers. The kingdom wants you and me. The kingdom owns the property of God and is looking for those who would work the property for a reward. The doors are open and the laborers are few. The work is plentiful and the harvest is ripe and ready for the picking. Are we willing? Are we ready? Do we have the skills to get the job done? Christ is calling us to come and work with him to get the job done.
Can you go? Can you work? Are you willing to work for the reward that is open to you? We work here on earth for the rewards that are given to us. We are given money that we use to buy the things that we want. Christ calls us to the work in his vineyard. The kingdom of heaven calls us to work in its vineyard. What will be our reward for the work that we do? Will we be given paper money that we can use in the here and now? Will we be given something else that is more precious than paper money? What will that be? What will we receive? What is more precious than the money we get today?
Is life everlasting more precious than paper money? Is life everlasting more valuable than gold, or silver, or diamonds, or any other thing that we hold in high esteem today? The kingdom of heaven calls us, just as the world calls us. Which one will we choose? Some know of the call. Some don't. Some are lost and do not know that they have a choice. Some know that they have the choice and choose not. That decision is ours and ours alone to make. But the call is still there. The kingdom calls, will you answer. The kingdom calls, do you hear. The kingdom calls, will you ignore the call. Christ is waiting. Come! Heed the call and come work in the vineyard for the kingdom of heaven. The reward is greater than anything that you will receive here on earth.
Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.
