PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 21:33-41
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“He sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.” (Matthew 21:34)
We saw yesterday that kingdom fruit is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
The master (God) has left us to produce this fruit, and sends people to collect it.
Who are the servants sent to collect it… is it not those who represent the master?
In Matthew 25:31-45, Jesus shows up through the weak and the outcasts.
The people in our lives who need love, joy, peace, etc. are his servants.
The fruit they receive from us is the fruit that Jesus receives from us.
How we treat them is how we treat Jesus – the master’s son – how we in fact treat God.
In the parable the son is killed; this is how the religious people would soon treat Jesus.
Not with kingdom fruit of grace but the worldly fruit of ridicule, exclusion and abuse.
God sends his servants to us today in the form of all kinds of strugglers and seekers.
God will be harsh with those who are harsh, and gracious with those who are gracious.
Are we as christians offering patience, kindness, mercy, gentleness, compassion to them?
My fear is that christianity in the world today has forgotten what grace is.
But the Spirit is not calling me to be critical of others; how am I treating God’s servants?
PRAYER
Lord, you are sending servants to me everyday – a few this week again. Help me to see you in them, and to show you grace to them!
I’m a tenant in the body that I was given. How am I using it? Am I using it to bear fruit for the kingdom? Am I serving and blessing my family, my neighbours, my community – whether they believe or not? The master is expecting a harvest – he is expecting the fruit. Lord help me to bless others as I serve that they may come to know you too!
Whose am I?
I am not my own but belong to Jesus Christ my Saviour. Him I must serve by my daily living for Jesus. Those I meet and greet need to see Christ Jesus living in me by my words and deeds. We all need to be like Christ unto others, showing His love and grace. I can only do this when I put on His armour. Then and then only am I able to produce the fruit of the Spirit.
Father we adore You, lay our lives before You,
How we love You;
Jesus…..
Spirit…..