Matthew 20:9-16

The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ 16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” - Matthew 20:9-16

Dear Jesus,

You worked really hard to teach us that you have a grace based relationship with every single soul. I am prone to want grace for me, but when it comes to others I want it all to be about fairness and justice. So, I tend to compare how you bless me with how you bless them. It always gets me into mental trouble. You are a loving and gracious God. You want all people to be saved. So, make me that way too. Help me not to separate myself from others in my mind as if I deserved more. I don't. What I have in life is because you are gracious. What others have rides on that same grace. Help me be a champion of that grace and to teach it freely to everyone around me.

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

No one is blessed by God for living right. It's all because he has mind blowing patience and grace with all sinners.