Got Grace?
“He replied to the one speaking for the
rest, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair. We agreed on the wage of a dollar, didn’t
we? So take it and go. I decided to give to the one who came last the
same as you.” Matthew 20:13,14
Grace is the make or
break proposition in the Christian walk.
If we understand it, it changes everything of our freedom, flexibility, satisfaction,
and reach to others…if we don’t understand it, we will become calculating, rigid,
entitled and fall back into bondage. We have to be very quick to recognize that
“nothing” we can do will earn us God’s favor, but everything Christ has done
will open the gateway of His blessings.
At the same time, it
separates Christianity from all other faiths. All other faiths are about man working his
way to God…Christianity alone is about God working His way to man.
In his book, And
God Said…Yes!!, Michael Sherer paints the picture of how it works best.
A Bible College student busily entered his class to gain a few minutes
of uninterrupted study time right before the final in his Youth Issues class.
When he got to class, everybody was doing their last minute studying. The
teacher came in and said he would review with them for just a little bit before
the test. They went through the review, most of it right on the study guide,
but there were some things he was reviewing that many had never heard of. When
questioned about it, he said that they were in the book and they were
responsible for everything in the book. They couldn’t really argue with that.
Finally it was time to take the test.
"Leave them face down on the desk until everyone has one and I’ll tell you to start," our Bible College Professor instructed. When we turned them over, every answer on the test was filled in! The bottom of the last page said the following:
"This is the end of the Final Exam. All the answers on your test are correct. You will receive an ’A’ on the final exam. The reason you passed the test is because the creator of the test took it for you. All the work you did in preparation for this test did not help you get the A. You have just experienced...grace."
He then went around the room and asked each student individually, "What is your grade? Do you deserve the grade you are receiving? How much did all of your studying for this exam help you achieve your final grade?"
Discussion afterward went like this: "I have tried to teach you all semester that you are a recipient of grace. I’ve tried to communicate to you that you need to demonstrate this gift as you work with young people. Don’t hammer them; they are not the enemy. Help them, for they will carry on your ministry if it is full of GRACE!"
In Matthew 20, Jesus shared the “Parable of the Workers.” Workers were called by an owner to work shifts beginning at 6 am, then 9 am, 12 noon, 3 pm all the way to 5 pm or an hour before closing. He agreed to pay each a certain amount. When it was time to pay them, they all received the same amount. When the ones who had been hired first thing in the morning began complaining, the boss said, "Should you be angry because I am kind?" Matthew 20:15.
Finally it was time to take the test.
"Leave them face down on the desk until everyone has one and I’ll tell you to start," our Bible College Professor instructed. When we turned them over, every answer on the test was filled in! The bottom of the last page said the following:
"This is the end of the Final Exam. All the answers on your test are correct. You will receive an ’A’ on the final exam. The reason you passed the test is because the creator of the test took it for you. All the work you did in preparation for this test did not help you get the A. You have just experienced...grace."
He then went around the room and asked each student individually, "What is your grade? Do you deserve the grade you are receiving? How much did all of your studying for this exam help you achieve your final grade?"
Discussion afterward went like this: "I have tried to teach you all semester that you are a recipient of grace. I’ve tried to communicate to you that you need to demonstrate this gift as you work with young people. Don’t hammer them; they are not the enemy. Help them, for they will carry on your ministry if it is full of GRACE!"
In Matthew 20, Jesus shared the “Parable of the Workers.” Workers were called by an owner to work shifts beginning at 6 am, then 9 am, 12 noon, 3 pm all the way to 5 pm or an hour before closing. He agreed to pay each a certain amount. When it was time to pay them, they all received the same amount. When the ones who had been hired first thing in the morning began complaining, the boss said, "Should you be angry because I am kind?" Matthew 20:15.
Here we find the
distinction between the parables Jesus told.
Sometimes they were of the stewardship variety and other times they
were the salvation type. This one was
the latter. All received an equal
portion, just like salvation will be, as Christ offers salvation whether accepting
it as a child, youth, adult or senior. While
rewards in heaven will vary based on service, salvation is based on Christ’s sacrifice.
It’s an act of grace…plain and simple.
Need healing? Need
salvation? Need anything? Get grace and
get His strength. He offers it to every
one of us…just fill-in-the blanks.
Terry Risser
Reflections:
1) Do
you see more grace or injustice in the Matthew 20 story?
2) Pray
for someone in your family or circle of friends that they might know His grace
Consider reading the word today:
Copyright 2014- Terry Risser
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