July 13 Tending the Vineyard?

Luke 20:9-19 He went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. 10 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. 12 He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out. 13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’ 14 “But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. ‘This is the heir,’ they said. ‘Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. “What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When the people heard this, they said, “May this never be!” 17 Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone’? 18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.” 19 The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.
 
EASY, isn’t it to see the sin? Some of Jesus’ parables need some time and research to understand. But this one doesn’t. The vineyard laborers abused and murdered to hold onto what was not theirs.
    Be alert to use this parable to assess your own response to your Father in heaven and the Son he sent. Are you carefully tending the “vineyard” – your own mind, your home, your neighbors and your church? Are you rejecting or receiving the Father’s servants? Today we call them pastors, teachers, mentors and leaders. The Spirit has sent them to help you grow roots into the Son and bear fruit for the kingdom. What is your response to the Son who has come? How will you receive him when he comes again?
    Is there possibly any way you reject the Father’s servants? Do you think the vineyard belongs to you, and you can control it? In your mind is the church man’s possession or God’s? Be willing to listen to his servants.
    Yes, Jesus says he is the foundational stone of his church. He is the capstone – the top stone in an arch to hold the from together. But his church removes his authority. Then we wonder why we stumble and fall. Vineyard tending is to be done in the Triune God’s power.         
    Plug into God’s grand gift to grow you into a faithful relationship with him. Be nourished in the truth. Stand on the rock of Jesus’ love, grace and salvation. Pray you will be found faithful.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your vineyard of faith you have planted into me. I pray I am faithful to tend to your gift in the Son’s truth and the Spirit’s power. Amen.