Merciful God

“Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’” Matt.20:15 [emphasis added]

The crux of this story [Matt.20:1-15] is not how to arm twist God or for you to think that it’s best to get born again just before you die. It does not work. If you check that story, every one of them came into the Kingdom when the landowner called them. So the door of the Kingdom is open to you when God is calling you, not at your discretion. If you wait to get born again at your preferred time, the devil will make sure that you die without ever finding a preferred time. This is why the Bible says today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts [Heb.3:15]. I was listening to someone preach and I was very amused at his comments about the story in Matt.20:1-15. He said he wonders why the workmen that came early were upset. He says if it were he, he would accept the day’s wage and just ask the Master if he will be recruiting the next day. And if the landowner says yes, he said he would make sure he comes at five minutes to the end of day. I had a good laugh because that is the limitations of our minds as human beings. Did you know you were going to wake up this morning? Do you know if you will wake up tomorrow? “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord” Ps.118:17. Amen, and you will see many more years. My point is this: the time to respond is when He calls you not when you choose. So the crux of this story is the kindness of Jesus even though He calls you late. So hinge your benefit on His kindness. I used to feel bad that I didn’t know God much earlier but this story gives me hope that even though He calls me at any time, I will still be all He has called me to be and get all that He has for me to get.

Jesus does practically everything out of compassion. Jesus was dying on the cross and He still said, “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing” Luke 23:34. Some of us have not even seen the cross yet and you are asking God to kill them all. Let me tell you something, when God wants to make you great, one of the first things He deals with is your flesh. One of the ways He deals with your flesh is that He makes you see how people are taking you for granted and He will require you to take it like that. I can tell you stories of situations where I will want to explode and He will say take it like that. But it is so unfair Lord; these people will think I’m a fool… Take it like that! Jesus still had time on the cross to say to the thief, “today, you will be with me in paradise”. God is a merciful God.

Prayer [song]: It’s Your Mercy that makes me run into Your Presence, My Helper! You are my Helper O, my Helper. It’s Your grace that makes me run into Your Presence, my Helper.