St Matthew, Chapter 20, verse: 5, So they went.

Our paragraph topic is: (Parable of the laborers in the vineyard) Part 5.  

What is just?  What is fair?  What is honest?  What is good?  What is right or wrong?  We see and ask these questions on a daily basis.  Christ told his disciples a parable that raised all of these questions.  Why did he do this?  He wanted them to have an understanding that was not openly available to everyone.  Theirs was the understanding of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.  Theirs was the knowledge that was not available to wise men.  Theirs was the vision of the Christ in his full glory.  Theirs was the insight given them by God our Father.

They did not yet posses all that was given to them, but the seeds were planted.  They would witness the coming forth of the fruit.  Christ spoke of a house-holder who needed workers in his vineyard.  He spoke to his disciples in plain terms that they could understand.  And yet underlying those plain term was the fruit that would later blossom into the understanding and insight given to them by the grace of God.  So the house-holder hired workers and agreed to pay them what was just.  "So they went.  And again he went out about the sixth, and about the ninth hour, and did as before."  

The house-holder called his workers, even in the middle of the day.  He saw them standing idle in the market place and he called them to work.  Christ calls his workers.  He calls them at all times of the day.  And he agrees to pay them what is just.  He does this again and again and again.  No matter what the time of day he calls workers to come and work in his vineyard.  Are you a worker?  Are you a weed?  Are you the fruit that needs to be harvested?  How do you fit into the kingdom of heaven?

The door is open to all who want to come.  The requirements are easy.  Anyone can qualify.  The choice is yours to make if you understand the offer.  There is another offer also, the offer of the world.  It is the one we are born into.  It is the one we live with.  It is the one that surrounds us daily.  But one must rise above what is seen.  One must view beyond what is obvious.  One must change the perspective to see what is hidden.  We have a choice.  Some understand that choice early on.  Some find that choice later in life.  And some struggle with that choice only to not understand.  And then there are those who see the choice, know the choice, but cannot make the choice.

Can you make the choice?  Can you choose to be the one?  Can you accept the choice of who you are in Christ?  The world will blind you.  The world will deceive you.  The world will seek to turn you away from your choice.  But the spirit cries out in you.  The spirit burns in you for fulfillment.  The spirit within you knows the truth of who you are.  Can you seek it?  Can you find it?  Can you know the truth of who you are in Christ?  The choice is yours to make.  The thief is out there seeking to steal your choice.  Be careful!  He will not announce himself to you.  He will not knock at your door.  He will come and take you away without your having a choice.  And then you will know.

Christ calls you.  Christ loves you.  Christ gave his life for you that you would have life.  Seek him and know.  Know him and love.  Be with him and be fulfilled.  The spirit cries out for you.  The spirit awaits for you.  The spirit is within you waiting for you to open the door and say: "Come in!"

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.

St Matthew, Chapter 19, verses: 1-2, Great crowds followed.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Christ travels to Judea). 

Christ finished his sermon to his disciples and to the people and moved on.  He left Capharnaum and entered the district of Judea.  He was on a mission, the mission of his father, to preach the coming of the kingdom of heaven.  For the kingdom of heaven was open to all.  It was open to those who heard the word.  It was open to those near and to those far away.  For they heard of the miracles.  They heard of the teachings.  They heard and they came to see for themselves.  They came to know.  They came to believe.

There was a hunger in the land.  There was a yearning.  There was a void that was not being fulfilled in the people.  And Christ came.  He came to save.  He came to take back.  He came to give new life.  He came to be the sacrifice, the propitiation for the sins of man.  And the people came to hear, to see, to know, to believe.  AND it came to pass when Jesus had brought these words to a close, that he departed from Galilee and came to the district of Judea beyond the Jordan.  And great crowds followed him, and he cured them there. 

It was a time for new beginnings.  It was an exciting time.  It was a time for joy, a time for happiness, even though there was much pain and torment in the land.  John the Baptist opened the door and spoke of the coming of the Messiah.  Some believed.  Some did not believe.  Some were excited.  Some were fearful.  Many were worried that the change would mean destruction for them.  And yet it was time.  It was the place.  It was the now that took over the land.  And there was news in the air.

Many had read about the coming.  Many believed that it was upon them.  Many saw the miracles.  And many eyes were opened, ears heard, and many believed.  He cured them all.  He made them whole.  He brought forth the light into the darkness and opened a door for those who had waited for so long for his coming.  Christ was the beginning and he was the end of what had taken place in the past.  He was a slice in time that denoted a break.  Will we have the same?  Will we have a break?  Will we be able to see, to hear the word, to know the truth, to believe?

The time is upon us.  The thief is lurking in the dark, surveying your house, to see when he may enter and take.  For he wants your most precious possession.  He wants to take away your light.  He wants to take away your life.  He wants to leave you in darkness and despair.  Be aware.  Awake from your sleep and be on your guard.  Sleep not.  Put on your armor and be on guard.  It is easy to be on the fence, half believing and just going through the motions.  The truth opens the heart and allows one to see, to know without doubt.  And with the truth one can live truly in Christ, without conflict.

Come!  Follow what is in your heart.  Seek the truth of who you are in Christ and you will know.  There will be no doubt.  There will be no fear.  There will be no lust.  There will be no desire to go astray.  For the truth opens the eye and allows one to see the light within, the light of life given by Christ Jesus.  Know your light and let nothing take your life from you.  For your light was given to you by your Father in heaven through Christ Jesus.  He loves you.  He will care for you.  He will protect you.  And he will bring you home to be with him for all eternity.

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.