Christ taught by means of figures and symbols. On one occasion He spoke a parable in regard to the hiring of laborers to illustrate the way in which God deals with those who devote themselves to His service….

It was the custom in Judea for men to wait at the marketplaces for someone to come and employ them; and in Europe this custom is still in vogue. Those who need help go to the marketplace to find servants that they may employ. The man in the parable is represented as going out at different hours to engage workmen. Those he hired at the earliest hour agreed to work for him for a stated sum of money, while those who were hired later left the wages they were to receive wholly to the discretion of the householder.

“So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.” …

The lesson of the laborers had a bearing upon the question about which the disciples had disputed by the way—who should be greatest in the kingdom of heaven. The world’s Redeemer saw the danger that would imperil His church, and sought to arouse His people to an understanding of their position; for this parable was but a continuation of the lesson taught when Peter asked, “Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?” …

With implicit trust we are to stay upon God, and let the heart rest in Him without a question as to what is to be our measure of reward….

Jesus would have those who are engaged in His service not [be] eager for rewards nor feel that they must receive compensation for all that they do…. The Lord measures the spirit, and rewards accordingly, and the pure, humble, childlike spirit of love makes the offering precious in His sight.—The Review and Herald, July 3, 1894.
From the Heart p. 113
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Josephine whose husband died this week. Rose
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Dear Friends,

When we first moved to North Carolina, we rented a garage apartment right across the street from the church and church school. This made it so convenient for Eileen since she could just walk across the street to go to school. It had a nice playground where she and Ronnie Jay could play together. It was also convenient for us as we did not have to drive to the various church meetings. Although the apartment was small, these things made us very happy there.

One day, our land lady told us that her son was going to be staying with her for a while. She was very excited. That son and his family soon arrived with all of their belongings. It looked to us as if they were planning to stay indefinitely. One day, he told us that we would have to move. He was moving to Wilmington permanently and would be living in his mother’s house. He had decided that our apartment would be a perfect place for his mother to live. It was hard to believe that anyone could do such a thing to their mother, but there was nothing we could do but try to find another place to live. We had lost everything but the clothes we were wearing in a fire just before we had moved there and losing that apartment that was so convenient for us made me feel as if my world was crashing in upon me. I just could not understand why this was happening. I was very discouraged.

Finally, after searching diligently, I found a mobile home that was surrounded by trees and fields. Behind the trailer was a warehouse where the snack food trucks stored their food supplies. It did not take my children long to discover that if they were outside when the trucks came, the drivers would give them the day-old food that they could not sell. Every day they would come back with their arms loaded with food. It was like having our own bakery outlet store! This was such a blessing to us, as we were having a very hard time financially and this helped our grocery bill tremendously. It was true that most of the food was high in sugar, but at least our children didn’t have to go hungry anymore.

There was a magnolia tree behind our trailer that Eileen enjoyed climbing and a wisteria vine loaded with fragrant blooms. The front yard was a lovely place with tall pines that shielded us from the street. On warm evenings, we enjoyed having worship under those pines. One evening as the children and I were sitting under those trees, we had a thrilling experience. I was playing the guitar, and we were singing songs of praise to our Heavenly Father, when a little screech owl flew down and landed on a post about 10 feet from us. He watched us and we watched him. He seemed to be enjoying the music. He stayed there all the time we were having worship and would have stayed longer, but Ronnie Jay, age two, was getting sleepy and wanted to go to bed. We had to walk within inches of that little owl to get inside. That was a little too close for that little owl’s comfort and he flew away.

Suddenly, I realized that we were much happier there than we had ever been in the apartment. I then knew that what had seemed like a such a great difficulty and trial, was really a great blessing sent to us from our Great Provider. My heart filled with gratitude for His loving care.

Sometimes we cannot understand why things happen the way they do. Our trials make us feel like our world is crashing in on top of us. We feel as did Job, “When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness.” Job 30:26 Yet, God has His hand over all of these things. He takes those very circumstances that seem so overwhelming and unfair and works them around for our good. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Rom 8:28

Moreover, He promises, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Ps 32:8 It may not happen as quickly as we would like, or in the way that we would like, but if we allow Him to, He will untangle all the tangled threads of our lives and make our path straight. Peter tells us, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 4:12,13; 1:7

Let us turn to our Loving Shepherd when things go wrong and when all forsake us. He is our comfort! He is our strength! He is our Fortress and our Mighty Deliverer! “Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” no matter what may be happening in our life, for we know and are assured that our Loving Father has our best interest at heart. Heb 13:15 Let us pray as did David, “In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defense to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD. Ps 31:1-3, 24

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/the-laborers.html

The Lord Jesus had precious truth to open before His disciples, but He could not unfold it to their minds until they were in a condition to comprehend the significance of what He desired to teach….

Though He unfolded great and wonderful things to the minds of His disciples, He left many things unsaid that could not be comprehended by them. At His last meeting with them before His death, He said, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.” … Earthly ideas, temporal things, occupied so large a place in their minds, that they could not then understand the exalted nature, the holy character, of His kingdom, though He laid it out in clear lines before them. It was because of their former erroneous interpretation of the prophecies, because of human customs and traditions, presented and urged upon them by the priests, that their minds had become confused and were hardened to truth.

What was it that Jesus withheld because they could not comprehend it? It was the more spiritual, glorious truths concerning the plan of redemption. The words of Christ, which the Comforter would recall to their minds after His ascension, led them to more careful thought and earnest prayer that they might comprehend His words and give them to the world. Only the Holy Spirit could enable them to appreciate the significance of the plan of redemption. The lessons of Christ, coming to the world through the inspired testimony of the disciples, have a significance and value far beyond that which the casual reader of the Scriptures gives them. Christ sought to make plain His lessons by means of illustrations and parables. He spoke of the truths of the Bible as a treasure hid in a field, which, when a man had found, he went and sold all that he had, and bought the field. He represents the gems of truth, not as lying directly upon the surface, but as buried deep in the ground; as hidden treasures that must be searched for. We must dig for the precious jewels of truth, as a man would dig in a mine.

In presenting the truth to others, we should follow the example of Jesus.—The Review and Herald, October 14, 1890.
From the Heart p. 106
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Prayer Requests
—-update—Norm has been put on hospice. Please pray for him and his family. Mike
—-Please pray for GC who has cancer. Pray for healing. Buck
—-Please continue to pray for Rita who became septic and is in ICU. Rose
—-Please pray for Steve who had spinal surgery and is having trouble recovering. Ron
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Dear Friends,

Yesterday I was thinking about my grandmother’s cousin Lillian who was a librarian in my hometown. Every time I saw her when my mother and I went to town when I was young, I wished that we had taken a different route. Lillian continually talked about the fact that she could trace her lineage all the way back to the American Revolution. In fact, she belonged to the Daughters of the American Revolution, an organization for just such people. (The irony of this was my mother and I also had the same ancestors.)

Just as Lillian was able to steer any conversation around to talking about her favorite subject, so we should do something similar but in such a way that people will want to avoid us. Our Dear Saviour is our example in how we should do this. When He was conversing with the woman at the well, He took her mind from the water in the well to the everlasting water that only He could give. “Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly. The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him. In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.” John 4:5-42 From that short conversation an entire town learned of Jesus and His love for them.

May we share the Good News of Salvation to all we meet. May we let our “light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” that they may become children of the Heavenly King is my prayer. Matt 5:16

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/i-have-many-things-to-say-unto-you.html

Half-converted men and women make halfhearted Christians. They are fruitless trees. On them Christ looks in vain for fruit; He finds nothing but leaves….

If Christ and self could be served at the same time, a large number would join the ranks of those who are journeying heavenward. But it is not for such as these that Jesus calls. His cause does not need such adherents.

Christ’s true followers use their knowledge to make others the recipients of His grace. With their lamps filled with holy oil, they go forth to give light to those in darkness. Such workers see many souls turning to the Lord. New truths continually unfold to them, and as they receive, they impart.

Those for whom the fetters of sin have been broken, who have sought the Lord with brokenness of heart and have obtained answer to their yearning requests for righteousness, are never cold and spiritless. They realize that they have a part to act in the work of soul-saving. They watch and pray and work for the salvation of souls. Molded and fashioned by the Holy Spirit, they gain depth and breadth and stability of Christian character. They gain enduring spiritual happiness. Walking in Christ’s footsteps, they become identified with Him in His self-sacrificing plans. Such Christians are not cold and unimpressible. Their hearts are filled with unselfish love for sinners. They put away from them all worldly ambition, all self-seeking. Contact with the deep things of God makes them more and more like their Savior. They exult in His triumphs; they are filled with His joy. Day by day they are growing up to the full stature of men and women in Christ Jesus….

By the way in which we do the work Christ has given us to do in His absence, we decide our future destiny…. Christ, the Master of the household, has gone to prepare for us mansions in the heavenly city. We are waiting for His return. Let us honor Him in His absence by doing with faithfulness the work He has placed in our hands. Waiting, watching, working, we are to prepare for His return.—Signs of the Times, July 9, 1902.
From the Heart p. 98
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Vanessa’s grandson Manny who has been hospitalized for tests as he is having episodes of falling asleep.
—-Please pray for our pastor’s wife’s father who is in his eighties and fell 18 feet from a ladder. He has eight broken ribs and several compression fractures in his spine.
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Dear Friends,
“Nip it in the bud” is an old saying that worked quite well when raising my children. I would try to correct them the first time they did something wrong before it became a habit that would be hard to break. I had always felt that I had done a commendable job in this area.

Imagine my surprise to find that I wasn’t quite as diligent as I thought I had been. Some years ago, we were reading the text “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” (Matt 18:21, 22) when Esther remarked to Ronnie Jay, “Remember when we were kids and Mom read this text to us. We began to slap each other and say “I forgive you, I forgive you, I forgive you.” I commented that I must have stopped them in short order. “No, you laughed.” was Esther’s answer. I was stunned. As I have tried to think of a reason for my neglect, I wondered if at the time, I had thought that their acting out the verse in this way would solidify the lesson. Yet, that seems like a very weak excuse.

How often we let things pass by in our own life, just as I had failed to correct my children when their silliness was bordering on the sacrilegious. How many times we rationalize that we are doing nothing wrong. Even when our actions are questionable, we let them slip by “just this once.” Soon, that “once” becomes a habit that is hard to break.

Solomon tells us, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Prov 16:25 How important, then, that we “give diligence to make [our] calling and election sure.” 2 Peter 1:10 How vital that we “keep [our] heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Prov 4:23

May we do as did Paul when he said, “this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3:13, 14

Rose

Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/gathering-or-scattering.html