God's Grace is in a completely different realm than our natural thought!

[Vine Abider]

A bother shared a message yesterday on the parable in Matthew 20 regarding the payment made to vineyard workers.  I really enjoyed this message, from start to finish, as it was choked full of fresh realizations regarding God's incredible grace!  In our human rationale, we can get all caught up in what seems to be unfairness from the vineyard landowner.  But the real point of that parable is the lavish grace being given to even the workers who came late in the day.  And the way the day's wage payment is laid out in the parable, giving wages first to the ones who came last, meant that all the workers got to witness this lavish grace.  But instead, they considered their own selves and compared themselves with others, which rose up in them a root of bitter unfairness.  Yet, they had received what they had been promised by the landowner.

This is reminiscent of the Prodigal Son parable too, regarding the two brothers.  The older brother couldn't stand that the misbehaving younger one had lavish grace and love poured out on him by their father.

This kind of grace is God's good pleasure!  He wants us to be enjoying Him in the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy and peace!  And in this Spirit He would have us revel in the fact that others are receiving lavish grace too!

As we've been going over the parables of Jesus the last few months, I'm getting a picture that one major theme is this amazing grace of God.  We fellowshipped yesterday that even the faithful servants in Matthew 25 are a picture of this grace that we are to enjoy. The picture I get of the two faithful servants, is that they merrily went about increasing their master's talents.  Again, this is what the New Covenant is about - love, joy and peace in the Holy Spirit!  And when their master returned, He was most happy to bestow on them lavish praise and rewards!  By contrast, the unfaithful servant feared much and thought his master to be a hard taskmaster.  Therefore he hid the talent (much as Adam & Even hid in fear) and his master was not pleased with the zero increase.  I suspect this could be the principle of "as is your faith, so be it unto you."

So we are to be enjoying this lavish and remarkable grace in Christ and sharing it with fellow workers in the vineyard (church), which is a whole "nuther" realm, much apart from our limited understanding!

[In the Clouds]

I can't help but think about the three on the crosses.  One would lose his body and soul.  And, one would see Him in heaven.  No matter when we come to Jesus it blesses and glorifies Him.   Thank you Lord may you be blessed day after day in all that you do and are!

[Michael37]

On 10/15/2024 at 8:59 AM, Vine Abider said:

A bother shared a message yesterday on the parable in Matthew 20 regarding the payment made to vineyard workers.

Mat 20:1  For the kingdom of Heaven is like . . .

It's good to know what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. The price paid to give us access to it is the same for everyone.
 

[In the Clouds]

So, why are so many so ashamed of their humanness and sin that they will not allow themselves to see the Lord eye to eye and heart to heart?  All it takes is one step forward. 

[farouk]

5 minutes ago, In the Clouds said:

So, why are so many so ashamed of their humanness and sin that they will not allow themselves to see the Lord eye to eye and heart to heart?  All it takes is one step forward. 

Hi @In the Clouds Ephesians 2 is such a great passage about the grace of God in Christ..........

"All of grace, yes, grace surpassing,
Such a portion to bestow;
But the love all knowledge passing,
Grace has called us now to know;
Love that bore the stripes and sorrow,
Love that suffered on the tree,
Love that shares the bright to-morrow
With the loved ones, you and me." (T H Reynolds)

[In the Clouds]

What a glorious comfort that is!

[farouk]

28 minutes ago, In the Clouds said:

What a glorious comfort that is!

Resting in His grace - rather than our works - is such a blessing, indeed, right? :)

[Vine Abider]

12 hours ago, farouk said:

Resting in His grace - rather than our works - is such a blessing, indeed, right? :)

We can rest in His grace - AMEN!  And while one aspect of His grace is certainly "unmerited favor" in the substitutional sacrifice of Christ in our place, another aspect of grace is "His "favored supply" to us now - in Christ we have an exceeding great supply to handle all the needs of this life ongoing!   

[Knotical]

14 hours ago, In the Clouds said:

So, why are so many so ashamed of their humanness and sin that they will not allow themselves to see the Lord eye to eye and heart to heart?  All it takes is one step forward. 

The only reason anyone would be ashamed of their humanness (sin nature) is that they have been saved and are being sanctified.

[steve morrow]

DO  NOT  FOLLOWERS  OF  CHRIST  JESUS  OBEY  HIM  BY  GRACE

 

ROMANS 5:21  that as sin hath reigned unto death even so grace might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by  JESUS  CHRIST  OUR  LORD

TITUS 2:11  for the grace of  GOD  that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men

--2:12--  TEACHING  US   that --denying-- ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly --righteously-- and godly--  in this present world 

1 JOHN 3:10  in this the children of  GOD  are manifest and the children of the devil  ---whosoever doeth not righteousness  ---  IS  NOT  OF  GOD ---  neither he that loveth not his brother 

 

LUKE 23:40  but the other answering rebuked him saying dost not thou fear  GOD  seeing thou art in the same condemnation

LUKE 12:5  but I will forewarn you whom you shall fear fear  HIM  which after  HE  hath killed hath power to cast into hell yea I say unto you fear him

PSALM 145:18  THE  LORD  is nigh unto all them that call upon  HIM  to all that call upon  HIM  in truth 

--145:19--  HE  will fulfill the desire of them that fear  HIM  HE  also will hear there cry and will save them 

 

LUKE 15:24  for this my son was dead and is alive again he was lost and is found and they began to be merry 

2 CORINTHIANS 7:10  for godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation ---not to be repented of--- but the sorrow of the world worketh death 

LAMENTATIONS  3:40  let us search and try our ways  ---and turn again to  THE  LORD---

EZEKIEL 33:11  say unto them as I live saith  THE  LORD  GOD  I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked ---turn from his way and live--- turn you turn you from your evil ways for why will you die o house of israel

 

COLOSSIANS 1:5  for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven whereof you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel 

--1:6--  which is come unto you as it is ---in all the world---and bringeth forth fruit as it does also in you since the day you heard of it ---and knew the grace of  GOD  in truth---

ACTS 20:24  but none of these things move me neither count I my life dear unto myself so that I might finish my course with joy and the ministry which I have received of  THE  LORD  JESUS  to testify the gospel of the grace of  GOD

ACTS 20:32  and now brethren I commend you to  GOD  and to the word of  HIS  GRACE  which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified 

 

SANCTIFIED  BY  TRUTH  OR  BY  MANS  COVETEOUSNESS

 

JOHN 17:17  sanctify them through thy truth thy word is truth 

HEBREWS 2:11  for both  HE  that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren 

 

PROVERBS 12:17  he that speaketh truth showeth for righteousness but a false witness deceit 

ROMANS 15:15  nevertheless brethren I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort as putting you in mind because of the grace that is given unto me of  GOD 

--15:16--  that I should be the minister of  JESUS  CHRIST  to the gentiles ministering the gospel of  GOD  that the offering up of the gentiles might be acceptable being sanctified by the hoy spirit 

JOHN 6:63  it is the spirit that quickeneth the flesh profiteth nothing the words that  I  SPEAK  unto you they are spirit and they are life 

 

1 CORINTHIANS 1:28  and base things of the world and things which are despised hath  GOD  chosen yea and things which are not to bring to naught things that are 

--1:29--  that no flesh should glory in  HIS  presence --

--1:30--  but of  HIM  are you in  CHRIST  JESUS  who of  GOD  is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption 

--1:31-- that according as it is written ---he that glorieth let him glory in  THE  LORD---

 

JEREMIAH 17:15  thus saith  THE  LORD  cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm and whose heart departeth from  THE  LORD

ISAIAH 2:22  cease you from man whose breath is in his nostrils for wherein is he to be accounted of

PSALM 144:3  LORD  what is man that thou takest knowledge of him or the son of man that thou makest account of him 

JEREMIAH 23:22  but if they had stood in  MY  counsel and had caused  MY  people to hear  MY  WORDS  then they should have --TURNED-- them from their evil way and from the evil of their doings

 

PSALM 130:17  but the mercy of  THE  LORD  is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear  HIM  and  HIS  righteousness unto childrens children 

--103:18--  to such as keep  HIS  covenant and to those that remember  HIS  commandments to do them

PSALM 25:10  all the paths of  THE  LORD  are --MERCY  AND  TRUTH-- unto such as keep covenant and  HIS  testimonies 

--25:14--  the secret of  THE  LORD  is with them that fear  HIM  and  HE  will show them  HIS  covenant 

 

JEREMIAH 13:10  this evil people which refuse to hear  MY  words which walk in the imagination of their heart and walk after other gods to serve them and to worship them shall even be as this girdle which is good for nothing

 

LOVING  THE  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST