Flower Beds

It’s that time of year when the flower beds should be cleaned out and prepared for the new spring. Yesterday, we spent time in the yard and for me it was time to weed. There were also new flowers to plant.

While weeding is not my favorite thing to do, I enjoy the clean flower beds and the new plants which come up. Yesterday, I was enjoying the sun and the results of the weeding. In that time, on my knees, dirt under my fingernails, I was thinking of how God clears weeds out of my life. What really was impressed on me was that for God to weed and plant in my life, this means that he is right beside me, kneeled down and working in the soil of my life. What a wonder that the God who created the universe is willing to kneel down next to me, in the dirt and make the flower beds of my life beautiful.

Renters Contract I

Think about the contracts involved when renting a house.  Issues such as caretaking, building care, upkeep – they must all be addressed in the contract between the owner and the renter.  What happens in the owner comes by and the renter has trashed his or her property?  They have a contract to fall back on that states this behavior is unacceptable.  It also states that in return for this care, that rent is paid.  If the rent is not paid the tenants must again face the consequences.

“There was a landowner who planted a vineyard.  He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower.  Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey.  When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit,” (Matthew 21:33-34).

So basically, you have a renter and the land owner.  In return for the land, they would be turning over part of his fruit as payment.  It seems like a pretty simple arrangement.  But, that wasn’t how it turned out…

“The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third,” (Matthew 21:35).  Beat, killed, and stoned?  WOW!  That is pretty darn harsh for fruit.  Why would they behave this way?  A terribly misguided sense of entitlement, greed, perhaps not addressing issues in the short term; I can think of several things.  But, what a reaction.

Then what happened?

“Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way,” (Matthew 21:36).  No offense to the land owner, but I think I would have opted for call the police long before this point.  Instead, the land owner tried again to have the agreement honored.  But, again the tenants did not abide by their agreement.

Surely this time he will go to the authorities – right?

“Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.  But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir.  Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’  So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him,” (Matthew 21:36-39).

Oh my goodness, they have killed servants, and now – they have killed the son!  Surely the land owner is going to do something now!

“Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” The question is raised – what should the land owner do?  What is punishment enough for these terrible acts by a grieving father and a grieved land owner?

“He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”

He is going to react, he will bring consequences.

What in the world does this have to do with Easter?

That is something you have to keep reading to figure out…. Until tomorrow 

Vineyard Roster

Jesus often told by using parables, stories that contained a lesson in them.  Story telling is a great way to share information, to explain an idea. 

The story goes like this…

“There was a man who had two sons.  He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’

‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing.  He answer, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.”

"Which of the two did what his father wanted?" 

"The first," they answered.

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”

I don’t want to work some days either.  I can lay in bed, the alarm clock on snooze, and think – do I really want to get up?  The bed is awfully warm and comfortable.  My pillows are just in the right spot.  The sun could come up a bit higher. 

I have to choose, I have to decide.  There are some times when I don’t want to do the task in front of me.  No, no no no!  I don’t want to!  I want to stay in bed where it is warm and comfy and safe!  I want to go do my own thing.  I don’t want to do that chore. 

What is worse?  Not wanting to and then going or not wanting to and saying that they will be there, only to not show.  Have you ever been on the receiving end of someone who says they will be there only to hear a whole group of excuses when they were not?  It is really hard to trust that that person will be there the next time. 

I love that next part!  Love it!!!  “The tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.”  What an amazing God.  He calls and we say no, I don’t want to go.  He instructs and we say, no – I don’t want to listen.  He says obey, and we say no, we want to do it our way.  He knocks and asks, seeks, and woos.  We break his trust over and over.  But, when we turn and decide to follow – then, we are still invited back in.  When we decide to go work in the vineyard, we are still allowed to come.  Amazing grace indeed!  Are you on the vineyard roster?