July 16:  Affirming His Grace.

HIS GENEROSITY.
"When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius."--Matthew 20:9

Many years ago, I got a new job.  I clearly remember that I started working in the middle of the last quarter of the year.  I was very thankful to have this new job, especially because it filled me with purpose and meaning.  And I was extremely surprised when my boss announced that I would be getting paid from the beginning of the quarter.  I was amazed at his generosity.

There is a surprising parable, found only in the Gospel of Matthew, that highlights God's outrageous generosity.  The story is placed between two framing sayings of Jesus about the first becoming last, and the last becoming first" (Matthew 19:30; 20:16).  Explaining these sayings, Matthew records the parable of Jesus about the landowner who hired laborers for his vineyard.  "The kingdom of heaven is like" a man who hires workers in the morning and agrees to pay them one denarius for the day and send them to his vineyard (Matthew 20:1, 2).  Then he keeps going back to the marketplace throughout the day, at 9:00 a.m., at noon, at 3:00 p.m., to get more workers, agreeing to pay "whatever is right" (verse 4).  We are not told why he needs more and more workers all through the day, yet this was a typical scene during the harvest.  But it is surprising that the landowner goes out again to hire at 5:00 p.m., with only one hour left to work.  When he asks those workers why they are still there, they answer that no one has hired them (verse 7).  It is possible that these were rejected, less desirable laborers, but he still hires them.  The law of Moses required employers to pay day laborers at the end of each day (Deuteronomy 24:14, 15).  The shocking ending of the parable shows how the last group gets called first and gets paid full wages!  (Matthew 20:9).  They each received one denarius even though they had worked only for one hour!  Can you imagine their joy?  Do you, or someone you know, feel like a reject or less desirable?  God invites you into the kingdom, and it's not too late!  We are all recipients of God's generous salvation!  Eternal life is for all who accept, for "some are not more saved than others." *

My Response:_________________________________________________________
* France, Gospel of Matthew, 751.

July 15:  Affirming His Grace.

HIS APPEAL.
"Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you."--Matthew 21:31

There are true followers of Jesus in the most unexpected places.  Our ministry, Jesus 101, recently received a wonderful letter from a prisoner describing his response after reading our booklet, "Luke: Salvation for ALL."  "Even though I am incarcerated," he wrote, "my soul has been set free!"  He ended his letter with an excited "Woo-hoo!"  As I was reading it, it occurred to me that some people in jail are feeling free, while some others in the church pews may actually feel incarcerated.  Quite a paradox, isn't it?

Matthew 21:31 is one of the most shocking verses in the New Testament.  It's part of the parable of the two sons that Jesus used to respond to the chief priests and elders who questioned His authority (see Matthew 21:23).  In the parable, a man appeals to his two sons to go work in the vineyard.  The first son responds negatively but later regrets his answer and goes (verse 29).  The second responds positively but then changes his mind and doesn't go (verse30).  Jesus asked them: "Which of the two did the will of his father?" and they answered, "the first" (verse 31).  Jesus gave the shocking interpretation: "Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you" (verse 31).  The most unlikely ones had believed, but the chief priests and elders had not (verse 32).  Tax collectors and prostitutes, despised by the religious leaders (see Luke 18:11), were getting to the kingdom ahead of the law-abiding, Sabbath-keeping priests and elders.  Those who had religious ancestry and pedigree were in peril of being excluded from the kingdom (see Matthew 8:11, 12).  In the most literal sense, the last were first, and the first were last.  The appeal of Jesus is meant for each one of us, whether we consider ourselves religious or unlikely followers.  In the Gospels, the religious folk are always in the gravest danger because they don't recognize their need.  Let's respond faithfully to the appeal of Jesus by examining our own hearts and accepting His grace, which none of us deserve.

My Response:_________________________________________________________

July 14:  Affirming His Grace.

HIS ACQUITTAL.
"I do not condemn you....Go.  From now on sin no more."--John 8:11

I was acquitted, not because I was innocent, but because the police officer didn't show up.  I had been coming down the mountain into a construction zone.  There were many trucks coming and going on the road, and I planned to follow the orange cones that were placed on the road to create a temporary lane.  A highway patrol officer thought I was not doing it right, so he pulled me over and gave me a ticket.  I decided to challenge this violation in court.  But when my name was called, the officer wasn't there, and I was acquitted by default, due to his absence.

When an adulterous woman was brought to Jesus, her accusers came with their Bibles in hand.  She had been clearly caught in adultery (John 8:4), and this was their opportunity to kill two birds with one stone: to condemn her and to test Jesus, in order to accuse Him (verse 6).  "In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?" (John 8:5).  The trap was cleverly set.  Their dilemma was that under the Roman law, the Jews had no power to carry out a death sentence (see John 18:31).   So, if Jesus had said, "Go ahead!  Stone her!" they could go to the Roman authorities and make a charge against Him.  If He had said, "Leave her alone!" they could charge Him with breaking the Law of Moses and discredit Him as a rabbi.  It was a clever trap.  "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her," He said (John 8:7).  She was guilty, and Jesus was the only One qualified to throw the stone.  But He aborted the stoning because a few days later He Himself would take the punishment that she deserved.  When He was left alone with her, He said: " 'Woman....Did no one condemn you?'  She said, 'No one, Lord.'  And Jesus said, 'I do not condemn you, either.  Go.  From now on sin no more' " (verses 10, 11).  Jesus always speaks in the same order.  First, "I do not condemn you," then, "Go...sin no more."  God desires for us to live healthier, more abundant lives, for His glory and for our happiness, yet He never reverses the order.  His bidding is always preceded by the good news of acquittal (see Romans 8:1), because He paid the price!  Thank You, Jesus!

My Response:_________________________________________________________

July 13:  Affirming His Grace.

HIS VERDICT.
"He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."--John 8:7

Unexpectedly, I found myself in the very place where my mother had told me not to go.  My father, then a pastor, was attending workers' meetings in a hotel, and my mom and I had come along.  I was a little girl, excitedly playing in the hotel's swimming pool, having been given instructions to stay in the shallow end.  But the bottom of the pool was slippery, and I gradually started sliding toward the deep end.  I panicked and tried to jump up, but I was drowning and could not reach the surface.  In desperation, I made one final attempt, and my mother saw me and rescued me, in spite of the fact that I had ended up on the wrong side.

The adulterous woman ended up exactly where she was told not to go--the deep end.  The charge against her is clear: adultery, caught "in the very act" (John 8:4).  Adultery was one of the three gravest sins for Jews; they would rather die than find themselves caught in idolatry, murder, or adultery.  The scribes and the Pharisees came to the temple that day with the Scriptures in one hand and stones in the other and dragged her into the center of the court (verse 3).  They wanted to make an example of her, humiliating her in front of everyone.  "Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do you say?" (verse 5; see Leviticus 20:10 and Deuteronomy 22:22-24).  There is no doubt that the scribes and the Pharisees are shaping the law to fit their intentions, but the truth is that the woman is guilty!  Have you ever been guilty and felt condemned by the law?  Adultery, lust, pride, gossip, stealing, bad parenting, lying, self-righteousness, et cetera?  Yes, you and I are sitting with her in the middle of the court.  Only we who have understood the bad news can rejoice with the good news!  The verdict Jesus gave is clear: guilty!  "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her" (John 8:7).  Conscience-stricken, they all departed, and Jesus was left alone with her.  By His own definition, Jesus was the only One (without sin) who could throw the stones!  But He didn't, because He chose to die in her place and in ours.  Hallelujah!

My Response:_________________________________________________________

July 12:  Affirming His Grace.

HIS GRACE.
For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.--John 1:17

In his insightful article entitled "The Covenants: A Developmental Approach," * Dr, van Rooyen discusses the process of continuity and discontinuity in the developmental stages of the everlasting covenant that God made with the human race.  A phrase that he utilizes in his article has stayed with me for many years and continues to aid my understanding: "The oak is in the acorn, and the acorn is in the oak, yet the tree is not the acorn."  I believe that this was the concept that John was conveying from the very beginning of his Gospel.

After the striking revelations that "the Word became flesh, and dwelt [tabernacled] among us...full of grace and truth" (John 1:14), the Gospel writer expands on what this last sentence means.  "For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace" (verse 16).  Grace is ongoing, and never-ending; grace is replaced with more grace and more grace, like the widow's oil and flour, which were never exhausted.  This verse is followed by a statement of the developmental nature of the covenant of grace: "For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ" (John 1:17).  It's not that there was no grace in the Old Testament because the whole sacrificial system was pointing to a Redeemer.  God Himself had given the Law, which embodied His character, that has always been love (see Exodus 34:6; Psalm 86:15).  But Jesus is the exact and complete revelation of God's grace, surpassing that of Moses and the prophets (see Hebrews 1:1-3).  John emphasizes the expansion of the old with the fullness of the new: the new wine is better than the water of purification (John 2:10); a new birth, not related to ancestry, is needed to enter the kingdom (3:3-5), the Water of Life is greater than the water of Jacob's well (4:13, 14), et cetera.  In John 1:17 the Word is given a name for the first time: Jesus Christ.  He is the personification and the fullest expression of grace.  Through Him we have received unmerited grace, and His grace is our assurance of salvation: grace upon grace!  Let's share His grace!

My Response:__________________________________________________________
* Smuts van Rooyen, "The Covenants: A Developmental Approach," Ministry Magazine, February 2004, https://www.ministrymagizine.org.archive/2004/02/the-covenants-adevelopmental-appraoch.html.

July 11:  Affirming His Grace.

HIS CLOTHING.
He [the king] said to him, "Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?"  And the man was speechless.--Matthew 22:12

In my teens, I went to a boarding school and lived in the dormitory there, far away from home.  I decided to join a sewing class but didn't have money to buy the materials.  I wanted to make a dress, so I used a pretty set of bed sheets that my mother had given me.  I was sure that no one would notice, because the print and color of the fabric were perfect for a summer dress.  I was proud to wear it when my parents arrived to visit me.  Then I heard my mother's voice from a distance: "Are those your bed sheets?"  I could fool everybody except my mom!

The parable of the marriage feast is the last of three parables that portray the unwillingness of God's chosen people to accept Jesus.  "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son" (Matthew 22:2).  All of the original guests pay no attention to the invitation, making excuses and even mistreating and killing the messengers.  Then the king chooses to replace the unworthy guests and orders his slaves to go out to the roadways to bring invitees for the feast.  "Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered together all they found, both evil and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests" (verse 10).  Even though some scholars disagree, the fact is that the custom of the host supplying the festal robes for the guests is implied, and it would have been necessary in light of the preceding context, where the guests came from the streets (verse 10).  When the king finds a man without wedding clothes, he asks why (verses 11, 12).  The rejection of the robe that was provided leaves this man without excuse.  Perhaps he thought that his own clothing was good enough, but it wasn't.  From Genesis to Revelation, humankind is in a clothing crisis.  Adam and Eve chose fig leaves (Genesis 3:7), and the members of the Laodicean church didn't realize their need for the white robes offered (Revelation 3:17).  The robe of righteousness of Jesus, given to us as a gift through His grace, is the only clothing that will be acceptable at the wedding feast of the Lamb.  Let's start wearing it now!

My Response:_________________________________________________________

July 9:  Affirming His Grace.

HIS PROCLAMATION.
"This son of mine was dead and has come to life again."--Luke 15:24

In his book What's So Amazing about Grace? * Philip Yancey tells the story of a young woman who had run away from home to a big city.  Things didn't work out, and she gradually started to spiral down.  Now she is broke, sick, and lives on the street.  In desperation, she calls her parents but nobody picks up the phone, so she leaves a message that she will be on the bus to her hometown the next day; if they are waiting for her at the terminal, she will get off the bus, but if not, she will ride on.  She did not know what to expect, yet she could have never imagined what she saw: her parents, grandparents, uncles, and cousins were all at the terminal, wearing party hats and holding a banner that read, "Welcome home!"

Throughout the Gospel of Luke, we see God declaring that Jesus is His Son: "You are My beloved Son;" "This is My Son (Luke 3:22; 9:35).  A similar statement is also found in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), except that this time the son is utterly unworthy.  This is the son who demanded the inheritance before the death of his parents, in effect rejecting his father and family.  Knowing that love cannot exist without freedom, the father "divided his wealth" (verse 12) and gave the younger son his part.  Then the young man embarks on a destructive journey; squandering his father's fortune with loose living (verse 13) and prostitutes (verse 30), spiraling down.  Later the land experiences a severe famine (verse 14), and he hits bottom.  Being hungry, he finds himself a job to feed swine and craves for the pods he is feeding to pigs but is not allowed even that.  Have you ever hit bottom?  Have you ever felt so lost or know someone who has?  Well, you are in for a surprise!  When the young man comes back home, he is embraced by a passionate father, wearing a party hat and holding a large "Welcome home" banner!  And, most amazingly, the father makes an amazing public proclamation: "this son of mine" (verse 24).  Yes, this is my son!  Our Father is not ashamed to call us His children!  You never stop being your father's child, no matter how lost or undeserving you may be!  Come Home!  God will embrace you, saying: "You and Mine!" (Isaiah 43:1).

My Response:_________________________________________________________
* Philip Yancey, What's So Amazing about Grace? (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1997)

July 8:  Affirming His Grace.

HIS CELEBRATION.
"Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate."--Luke 15:23

Allan Collins is the talented creator of the "silent sermon" sculptures.  One of these amazing sculptures is found at La Sierra University in California, entitled The Glory of God's Grace.  In this sculpture, we see the prodigal son returning home and his father running to meet him.  When a contractor was called to adjust the sculpture's base, he wondered what it meant.  Once this parable was explained to him, tears filled his eyes, because he had just made his son leave home because of his bad behavior.  He was convicted now to go and look for his son and bring him back home.

When the prodigal son had squandered his father's wealth, with loose living (Luke 15:13), he wanted to come home.  Since he was no longer worthy to be called a son, he planned to work as a servant (verse 19).  But his father saw him from afar and ran to him!  The sculpture at La Sierra University depicts vividly the passion of the father, running towards his son, as the father's garments seem to be lifted by the wind, exposing his legs, which would have created a shameful situation for an elderly gentleman.  Yet the father did not care about his honor; instead he ran, embraced, and kissed the prodigal, restoring him to sonship (verses 20-23).  But that's not all.  He also called for a big celebration: "Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.'  And they began to celebrate." (verses 23, 24).  Then we see the older brother, grumbling just like the Pharisees and scribes (verses 28-30, compare with verses 1, 2).  The father pleads with him to join the celebration; after all, he is as undeserving as the younger son, yet he is in denial.  Take a moment to read this fascinating story to the end (Luke 15:11-32).  It's packed with celebration and filled with rejoicing and happiness because that which was lost has been found.  Heaven is a place of rejoicing (see verse 7, 10).  We will worship Him with exuberant joy when we realize that we are the ones who were lost but are now found!  Let's joyfully accept and declare His grace from this day forward!

My Response:_________________________________________________________

July 7:  Affirming His Grace.

HIS RECEPTION.
"While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him."--Luke 15:20

Many years ago, I was in an antique store, admiring the display of several small items from the first century of the Christian era, when something caught my attention.  I came upon a whole section of signet rings, instruments of choice to stamp the family's name on important documents.  I bought one to use as a visual aid in my talks.  The signet ring always reminds me of the grace of God, which is bigger than all of our failures.  Let me tell you why.

Jesus was being friendly with sinners, and the religious leaders of the people did not like it.  So, they grumbled about it (Luke 15:2).  In response to this complaint, Jesus told three parables about lostness: one out of a hundred sheep (verses 4-7), one out of ten coins (verses 8-10), and one out of two sons (verses 11-32) all get lost.  This is how the third story starts: "A man had two sons.  The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.'  So he divided his wealth between them" (verses 11, 12).  And just like that, the younger son left his father, and squandered his estate, becoming impoverished and hungry.  "But when he came to his senses" (verse 17), he decided to go back home and work for his father as a hired man.  Little did he imagine the reception that awaited him!  When he was still far away, his father saw him, ran to him, embraced and kissed him, and said to his servant: "Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet" (verse 22).  These three commands that are recorded are symbolic acts of restoration.  The best robe, usually the father's, would immediately cover the son's shamefulness.  The ring would once again identify him as part of the family, and if it were a signet ring, it would even give him the authority to attach the family's name to business transactions.  The third order is a statement that he was being received as a son, because laborers were not given sandals.  If you, or a loved one, have wandered far away from God and decide to come back to Him, you will encounter the same reception!

My Response:_________________________________________________________

July 6:  Affirming His Grace.

HIS PATIENCE.
"The younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distance country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living."--Luke 15:13

There is something really exciting about the anticipation of a journey we are about to embark on.  My friend remembers when he was a teenager living in a rural area, how he always wanted to go to the capital city.  And when he did get a chance, he was so excited as he rode the train thinking about all the fun things he was planning to do.  And naturally, the level of his excitement was directly related to the amount of dispensable money he carried that day.

The younger son, in the story of Jesus, is in that situation (Luke 15:13).  He is heading to a country far away; he is young, filled with the anticipation of fun, and he has money, lots of it!  Strangely, his father seems to be passive in all of this.  Once the inheritance was divided, he does not attempt to prevent his son from going to the far country; he does not interfere in his son's life nor object to the way he is squandering his money.  The father is patient.  Why patient, we wonder?  If there is ever a time to act, it is now!  But the father knows that the only way his son can find his way back home is to realize that he has wandered away from home.  In order to be found, he has to recognize that he has been lost.  Have you ever gone to a distant country?  Perhaps right now you may be wandering away from God, your Heavenly Father.  And it can happen in little and big things, inside and outside of religious circles.  If so, remember: God is a patient Father.  Whenever we realize how lost we are, and turn back to Him, we will surely experience the joy of His embrace! (see Luke 15:20-23).  The original word used for far away/distant (verse 13), is the same word used in the good news shared by Paul: "But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ....He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near" (Ephesians 2:13-17).  "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.  I once was lost, but now I'm found..." *

My Response:_________________________________________________________
* John Newton, "Amazing Grace," 1779, public domain.