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May 28, 1999, Friday
If someone offered you a thriving business and all you
had to do was manage it and send the owner his rent for
the property, would you consider it a good deal? Would
you need good management skills to be successful at your
new endeavor? What do you think would happen if the one
that accepted the wonderful proposition decided not to
cooperate with the landowner?
Jesus explained a principle in a parable to His followers
that God began a work in His people, individuals that are
"Born Again Believers" and that group of Believers called
the "Church". The parable taught that God planted them in
the world as a vineyard, and then built protection around
it. Inside the vineyard, He built a tower and that tower is
the Name of the Lord, where the righteous can go to safety-
"A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a
place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it
to vinedressers and went into a far country" (Mark 12:1).
The protection is peace that God puts AROUND His people
to set them apart from the cares and worries of this world.
The Believer and the Church grow spiritually regardless of
the circumstances! However Christ informed His listeners
of the responsibility for such a good deal!
Jesus made them AWARE that God is gracious and lends, but
He expects tangible results from His people that He blessed-
"Now at harvest time he sent a servant to the vinedressers,
that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from
the tenants" (Mark 12:2). God the landowner did not have
high expectations, and did not even put them to the trouble
of asking at an inconvenient time! But He does expect fruit
from His vineyard and has purposed to teach His own people
the responsibility of managing His Kingdom Work!
Jesus taught ALL of His instruction in the parable of the
landowner and tenants. God is gracious and patient, But
His grace will not be abused and His patience has a limit-
"Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will
come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard
to others" (Mark 12:9). Many times we don't hear all of the
story, but Christ put emphasis on the fact that God will not
be mocked and each person must give Him an account for
whatever He asks from us.
Let us remember Who is the God that is our peace. God's
Name is Jehová Shalom. He is the God that puts His peace
all around His people. He is the God that is helping us
learn His ways. He is meek and humble and makes us aware
that the fear of the Lord gives protection. He will soon
crush Satan under our feet and instructs us from all of
His teaching. Lift your hands to Him and Praise Him today
for the fact that He keeps us with in His peace!
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