St. Matthew, Chapter 21, verses:28-29; Work in the Vineyard.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the two sons) Part 1. 

Since they did not want to incriminate themselves, Christ told them that he could not answer their question as to his authority.  He gave them the opportunity to become open to the truth.  He gave them the chance to receive that which he was about to give, but they were blind.  They could not see or hear the opportunity that was available to them.  So he gave them another opportunity to understand.

He told them a parable that maybe would help them to see and be open to the truth.  He told them the parable of the two sons.  He asked:  “But what do you think? A man had two sons; and he came to the first and said, ‘Son go and work today in my vineyard.'  But he answered and said, 'I will not'; but afterwards he regretted it and went.

Christ told the chief priest and the elders this parable so that they would understand authority.  You see, they understood the parable of the father and the sons because they could understand the authority of the father and the need for obedience of the sons.  So what did they think of the son who was disobedient to the wishes of the father but later thought about his disobedience and repented?

Was that the right thing to do?  Did the son regret his mistake in telling the father that he would not do his will but later repented?  Would they, could they understand the meaning of this parable and come to repent to the will of God their father?  Or were they so far gone that nothing could open their minds and their hearts to repent?

We live in a world that hides the truth of the father.  It may be that only through adversity that we come to realize the truth of who we are and to understand the majesty and glory of God our Father.  There are many things that we do not understand or try to reason to our own understanding as to the why and wherefore.  Why are there accidents that take the lives of innocent children?  Why do some die so young?  Why do the children suffer with crippling diseases?  Why must we live with debilitating pain in our lives that make us despair and want to end it?  Why is there war and not peace in the world?  Why are there natural disasters that take the lives of so many people?

All these whys and yet no answers.  Who knows the mind of God and who are we to question it?  I thank him, myself, that I was not so far gone that I did not open myself and my heart to his calling to repent.  I thank him that I am able to repent and to know that he is a merciful God.  I was lost and headed down the road to destruction.  Even considered the whisperings of depression and despair.  My life was lost and I had no where to turn.  I asked for forgiveness.  I asked for direction.  I asked to know the truth.  I asked to know him, to know his love for me.  And he touched me and filled me with a knowledge and understanding that lets me know that he is with me all my days.  He is inside of me, he is the life within.

If you are tired and do not know where to turn, turn to him.  Ask for his forgiveness.  Ask to know him.  Ask to feel him in your life.  Ask him to walk with you everyday that you may not know the despair and depression that you have lived with for so long.  Believe that he will be with you and seek to see the little miracles that happen in your life each and every day that are signs of his presence.  He is love.  He is faithful.  He is with you, always.

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 nd 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 21, verse:3, The Lord's needs.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Jesus sends two disciples into Jerusalem) Part 3. 

Jesus had sent his two disciples into Jerusalem with his instructions.  They listened to his words and followed them.  They knew not the purpose.  They knew not the why and the wherefore of his actions.  They only knew that they should follow his instructions.

So they proceeded into Jerusalem in search of the ass and the colt that he instructed they would find.  And just as he had instructed they found them tied to a post.  So they untied them and proceeded to return with them.  As fate would have it someone may see them and question the why and wherefore of their actions.  So he instructed them such:  "And if anyone say anything to you, you shall say that the Lord has need of them, and immediately he will send them." 

Those were the instructions that Christ gave to his disciples going into Jerusalem.  He wanted them to be prepared that they would know what to say and what to do.  He knew that they would encounter anyone.  He knew that they would be watched, that their actions would be questioned.  So he gave his disciples specific instructions as to what to say and what to do.  He did not tell them to run.  He did not tell them to steal.  He did not tell them to be ashamed of what they were doing.  They were doing his will and his bidding.  So they followed his instructions as they were given.

The disciples were blessed to be able to walk and talk with Christ in his time.  They were special, chosen by him to do his bidding after he was glorified and returned to his Father in heaven.  Today it must be a very special thing to be chosen, to be recognized by Christ in heaven, by one so great.  It must be special to be given instructions of some task that he wants accomplished here on earth.  It must be a grace given to those who can hear his voice, a grace to those who have understanding, a grace to those whose hearts are open to his calling.  They are the ones able to know and be touched by his love.  Not knowing the why or the wherefore, but following the instructions that are given, must be a special privilege bestowed upon those that are called to do his bidding.

He holds our hands even as we walk through the darkness not knowing where we are going.  He turns us away from the cliff that we are about to jump from in our moments of despair.  He loves us even though we do not know how to love him.  He forgives us even when we do wrong and go against his will.  We are his children and many do not know the truth of his love for us.  Many do not understand who we are and why we are here.  Many do not understand the truth of who they are.  We are lost children seeking to find our way home being led astray by those who would deceive us, those who would destroy us, and those who would see us loose that which was given us by the sacrifice of Christ Jesus.

God calls all his children.  Christ said that his sheep know his voice.  No one can come to the Father except through Christ Jesus.  Our path is set.  Our instructions are clear.  All we need do is follow them and we will know the truth of his love for us. 

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 18, verse: 12, The Lost Sheep: Searching for those that have strayed.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The lost sheep) Part 3.   

What do you think, Christ asked his disciples?  Why do you think that he came to earth?  He wanted to have them speak what was in their minds.  He wanted his disciples to understand the true reason of his coming.  Though they did not know, he told them.  He gave them the key to opening the doors of heaven.  He told them how they should turn from the ways of the world and seek the knowledge held by little children.  For the little children were the example that Christ put before his disciples that they could see who they were to become.

Little ones, he said.  Precious ones, he knew them as.  Loved ones, as he saw them through the eyes of the father.  Protected ones, by the angels themselves in heaven, guarded by the knowledge of God himself.  For Christ came to collect.  He came to return what was lost.  He came to reclaim that which did not belong here on earth but belong in heaven and he wanted his disciples to know.  He told them.  He gave them examples.  And he demonstrated the love for them through a parable.   "What do you think?", he asked his disciples.  And he continued to demonstrate his passion:  "If a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them stray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the mountains, and go in search of the one that has strayed?  And if he happen to find it, amen I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray."

And so it was given to the disciples to understand the tremendous love that a man has for his one lost sheep.  And they understood the love that the Father has for mankind, his lost sheep, his lost little ones, his lost children.  For we are the ones that were lost.  We are the ones that strayed.  We are the ones that he loves so dearly that he sent his son to reclaim us.  For Our Father is a merciful father.  Our Father is a loving father.  Our Father is a forgiving father.  For he understands who are his children and he understands the mistakes that they will make.  And despite our mistakes, our errors, our downfalls, he still loves us.

We are brought into this world to experience life.  For we were not.  We knew not.  We did not until we were given life.  But there are those who came before us.  Those that had life before we were.  Those that would steal us away from the Father.  So the choice is ours to make.  But we must understand clearly the choice that we make.  We must know the truth of our actions.  We must know the truth of who we are.  For without the truth we are misled.  Without the truth we are swayed.  Without the truth we are stolen, not knowing who we are, not knowing the life that we have, not knowing the destiny that is ours in the Father. 

We live in a world but are not of the world.  We see ourselves as physical but we are not physical.  We believe in the things of the world but we are in disbelief of who we are because this is the misinformation that we are given, the misinformation that we are fed, the misinformation that programs us from birth.  But God is with us.  Christ came for us.  The Holy Spirit will be with us, if we choose. 

Wake up from your sleep and see the truth before you.  Let not the influence of the mind stop you.  For the evil of the world will invade the mind.  The evil of the world will persuade the mind.  The evil of the world will turn the mind away from the truth that is in the heart.  Open the heart to Christ and you will find all that the heart desires.  For Christ is our truth.  Christ is our satisfaction.  Christ is our peace.  Christ is our love, and our protection, our provider.  He will give all.  He will show all.  He will lead you and guide you so that there is nothing that will sway you again to the world.  Come!  Open the heart to Christ and receive the Holy Spirit.  For Christ loves you.  The Father adores you.  And the Holy Spirit will be with you all the days of your life.  Amen.

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.