The Forgotten; The Passed Over and the Rejects

"So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”  

                                                                    Matthew 20:16   NKJV

'God has a peculiar passion for the forgotten. Have you noticed? See His hand on the festered skin of the leper. See the face of the prostitute cupped in His hands. Notice how He responds to the touch of the woman with the haemorrhage. See Him with His arm around little Zacchaeus.'   And the angels were silent. Max Lucardo P16

Max Lucardo hits the nail on the head with his comment above. Jesus' passion knows no end. Nowhere will you find anyone more loving and friendly than Jesus. He always gives us the best. Jesus had just finished telling His disciples a parable about workers in a vineyard. (Matt 20:1-16) The Landowner had been out very early in the morning and chosen labourers for his vineyard. He offered them the rate for a day's work - a denarius. He went out several times during the day and offered the same to whoever was there. On the last job search, with only an hour to go before the end of the day, he noticed more workers looking for work. When asked why they had no work, they replied that no-one had hired them. He offered them a job for the last hour. When it came to the pay out, the Landowner gave everyone the same rate. Those that had been there all day, protested about this. But the Landowner told them, he gave them what they had agreed to and as the vineyard was his, he could pay whatever rate he wanted to for the last of the workers.  When He had finished the parable, Jesus turned to His disciples and said "So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.” 

The main message of this parable is that all are received and rewarded by God based on His grace. He gives much to those He wishes to, based not on their worthiness but on His own generosity. Some of those who are last and least deserving of reward in the kingdom of heaven, may become first in receiving God's grace precisely because of their lack of apparent work or effort. Others who gave up much for Jesus and seemingly did great things for God may be last in terms of their reward. It is all for God to say.

Jesus showed compassion on the rejects of this working day; He saw their potential and their heart and, He will never allow people to be left waiting on the sidelines for very long. 

You may have been waiting for a long time for recognition - for someone to recognise the potential and qualities that you can offer. The workers that were not hired initially didn't walk away. Not at all, they waited and hoped and they were rewarded because Jesus recognises the heart and what people can bring to His work, if given the chance. Jesus wants to give you the chance - the opportunity but, you must wait for His timing. He's never too late. Even though there was only an hour of work left, the last of these workers were hired and received what everyone else had been given.

He is such a just and loving God. Don't give up hope or tire of waiting. He will come! 

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

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