And so the Last will be First, and the First will be Last...

Happy Wednesday everyone! I hope your all having a blessed week:)

I've been reading the book of Matthew, and as always I've learned a new thing from this chapter that I never digested before. That is, why Jesus taught in parables and what exactly they are. In Matthew 13, I learned that Jesus used parables because they are stories that compare something familiar to something unfamiliar, thus helping us to comprehend spiritual truth by using everyday objects and relationships. One parable that really stood out to me was that of the Vineyard Workers in the 20th chapter of Matthew. In this parable Jesus uses an owner of an estate, and his workers to describe the kingdom of heaven. He starts out describing the owners quest to hire workers for his vineyard. Early that morning the owner goes out and finds workers whom he agrees to pay the normal daily wage to. Later in the morning, he finds more workers, and agrees to pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. Again at noon, he finds more workers, and agrees to the same compensation. Then twice that afternoon, at 3 o'clock, and 5 o'clock he finds more workers and offers them the same compensation. When the work day had ended he gathered all the workers together and paid everyone the same wage. As expected this angered some of the workers who had been hired at the break of dawn, because they felt like they should be getting paid more because than had done more work, than the workers who were hired in the afternoon. Immediately after reading this parable, it hit me...God's grace...his generosity is given in the same way. As Christians we can sometimes look down on the person who isn't involved as much in the church as you are, or who doesn't live the holiest life as you do, or who even doesn't read the bible as much as you do. However we must learn that God's grace is available to all. Whether you commit your life to Christ at 9 or whether you commit your life to Christ at 76. The bible tells us in Luke 23: 40-43, that the criminal who repented as he was dying will be there along with the people who believed and served God for years.  So instead of getting upset about "how much grace" we think we are owed, we should instead just be grateful for his grace. This goes along with not being jealous of what others have. You may see someone who you think is a sinner, and feel angry because you are doing all that's right and don't have nearly as much as them, but again we must quickly end those thoughts and focus on God's gracious benefits to us. I challenge this week to ponder on where your attitude stands on this subject, and I pray that we all can come together and just be thankful for his grace. For Matthew 20: 16 reminds us that, "And so it is, that many who are first now will be last then, and those who are last now will be first then." There's no ranking in who receives his grace. It's open to all! Now isn't that something special.......