"So the people that have the last place now will have the first place in the future. And the people that have the first place now will have the last place in the future."
—Matthew 20:16
Key Thought
Reversal!
When God settles all the accounts, then things are going to be valued by his standards and not the world's standards. The people whose hearts are yielded to him will be recognized as his children no matter their lack of rank or riches in worldly society. Those who recognize their grace at being included in God's Kingdom will be given places of honor.
So our goal as disciples is to value things now as God will later. Our job as disciples is to keep searching and including the lost, the last, and the least in the Kingdom and not just those who can bring us some outward benefit.
Remember, God doesn't look at us the way people do. People look at the outward appearance, but God knows our hearts.
Today's Prayer
O Lord God, your grace to me is marvelous. Your promises are thrilling. I can't wait until you send Jesus with power and show things as they should be and reward people based on their character, their hearts, and their gratitude for your grace. To you be all praise and honor and power and glory belong, both now and forever. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
"The kingdom of heaven is like a man that owned some land. The man grew grapes on his land. One morning, the man went out very early to hire some other people to work in his field. The man agreed to pay the workers one silver coin for working that day. Then the man sent the people into the field to work. "At about nine o'clock the man went to the market place and saw some other people standing there. These people were doing nothing. So the man said to them, 'If you go and work in my field, I will pay you what your work is worth.' So the people went to work in the field. "The man went out again about twelve o'clock and again at three o'clock. Both times the man hired some other people to work in his field. At about five o'clock the man went to the market place again. He saw some other people standing there. The man asked them, 'Why did you stand here all day doing nothing?' "The people said, 'No person gave us a job.' "The man said to them, 'Then you can go and work in my field.' "At the end of the day, the owner of the field said to the boss of all the workers, 'Call the workers and pay all of them. Start by paying the last people I hired. Then pay all of them, ending with the workers I hired first.' "The workers that were hired at five o'clock came to get their pay. Each worker got one silver coin. Then those workers that were hired first came to get their pay. Those workers thought they would be paid more than the other workers. But each one of those workers also received one silver coin. When they got their silver coin, these workers complained to the man that owned the land. The workers said, 'Those people were hired last and worked only one hour. But you paid them the same as us. And we worked hard all day in the hot sun.' "But the man that owned the field said to one of those workers, 'Friend, I am being fair with you. You agreed to work for one silver coin. Right? So take your pay and go. I want to give the man that was hired last the same pay that I gave you.I can do what I want with my own money. Are you jealous because I am good {to those people}?' "So the people that have the last place now will have the first place in the future. And the people that have the first place now will have the last place in the future."Matthew 20:1-16
Related Scripture Readings
The Father (God) has loved us so much! This shows how much he loved us: We are called children of God. And we really are God's children. But the people in the world (people who don't believe) don't understand that we are God's children, because they have not known him (God). Dear friends, now we are children of God. We have not yet been shown what we will be in the future. But we know that when Christ comes again, we will be like him. We will see him like he really is. Christ is pure. And every person who has this hope in Christ keeps himself pure like Christ. — 1 John 3:1-3
Don't be surprised at this. A time is coming when all people that are dead and in their graves will hear his voice. Then they will come out of their graves. The people that did good in this life will rise and have life forever. But the people that did evil will rise to be judged guilty. — John 5:28-29
My dear brothers and sisters, you are believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. So don't think that some people are more important than other people. Suppose a person comes into your group. This person is wearing very nice clothes and a gold ring. At the same time a poor person comes in wearing old, dirty clothes. You show special attention to the person wearing nice clothes. You say, "Sit here in this good seat." But you say to the poor person, "Stand there!" or, "Sit on the floor by our feet!" What are you doing? You are making some people more important than others. With evil thoughts you are deciding which person is better. Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! God chose the poor people in the world to be rich with faith. He chose them to receive the kingdom God promised to people who love him. — James 2:1-5
Ⓒ 1996-2017 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware. Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.
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—Matthew 20:16
Key Thought
Reversal!
When God settles all the accounts, then things are going to be valued by his standards and not the world's standards. The people whose hearts are yielded to him will be recognized as his children no matter their lack of rank or riches in worldly society. Those who recognize their grace at being included in God's Kingdom will be given places of honor.
So our goal as disciples is to value things now as God will later. Our job as disciples is to keep searching and including the lost, the last, and the least in the Kingdom and not just those who can bring us some outward benefit.
Remember, God doesn't look at us the way people do. People look at the outward appearance, but God knows our hearts.
Today's Prayer
O Lord God, your grace to me is marvelous. Your promises are thrilling. I can't wait until you send Jesus with power and show things as they should be and reward people based on their character, their hearts, and their gratitude for your grace. To you be all praise and honor and power and glory belong, both now and forever. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
"The kingdom of heaven is like a man that owned some land. The man grew grapes on his land. One morning, the man went out very early to hire some other people to work in his field. The man agreed to pay the workers one silver coin for working that day. Then the man sent the people into the field to work. "At about nine o'clock the man went to the market place and saw some other people standing there. These people were doing nothing. So the man said to them, 'If you go and work in my field, I will pay you what your work is worth.' So the people went to work in the field. "The man went out again about twelve o'clock and again at three o'clock. Both times the man hired some other people to work in his field. At about five o'clock the man went to the market place again. He saw some other people standing there. The man asked them, 'Why did you stand here all day doing nothing?' "The people said, 'No person gave us a job.' "The man said to them, 'Then you can go and work in my field.' "At the end of the day, the owner of the field said to the boss of all the workers, 'Call the workers and pay all of them. Start by paying the last people I hired. Then pay all of them, ending with the workers I hired first.' "The workers that were hired at five o'clock came to get their pay. Each worker got one silver coin. Then those workers that were hired first came to get their pay. Those workers thought they would be paid more than the other workers. But each one of those workers also received one silver coin. When they got their silver coin, these workers complained to the man that owned the land. The workers said, 'Those people were hired last and worked only one hour. But you paid them the same as us. And we worked hard all day in the hot sun.' "But the man that owned the field said to one of those workers, 'Friend, I am being fair with you. You agreed to work for one silver coin. Right? So take your pay and go. I want to give the man that was hired last the same pay that I gave you.I can do what I want with my own money. Are you jealous because I am good {to those people}?' "So the people that have the last place now will have the first place in the future. And the people that have the first place now will have the last place in the future."Matthew 20:1-16
Related Scripture Readings
The Father (God) has loved us so much! This shows how much he loved us: We are called children of God. And we really are God's children. But the people in the world (people who don't believe) don't understand that we are God's children, because they have not known him (God). Dear friends, now we are children of God. We have not yet been shown what we will be in the future. But we know that when Christ comes again, we will be like him. We will see him like he really is. Christ is pure. And every person who has this hope in Christ keeps himself pure like Christ. — 1 John 3:1-3
Don't be surprised at this. A time is coming when all people that are dead and in their graves will hear his voice. Then they will come out of their graves. The people that did good in this life will rise and have life forever. But the people that did evil will rise to be judged guilty. — John 5:28-29
My dear brothers and sisters, you are believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. So don't think that some people are more important than other people. Suppose a person comes into your group. This person is wearing very nice clothes and a gold ring. At the same time a poor person comes in wearing old, dirty clothes. You show special attention to the person wearing nice clothes. You say, "Sit here in this good seat." But you say to the poor person, "Stand there!" or, "Sit on the floor by our feet!" What are you doing? You are making some people more important than others. With evil thoughts you are deciding which person is better. Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! God chose the poor people in the world to be rich with faith. He chose them to receive the kingdom God promised to people who love him. — James 2:1-5
Ⓒ 1996-2017 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware. Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.
Amen, Boartor! We agree with you for smooth and speedy house repairs. May the Lord guide the hands of the workers and provide all that is needed, as it is written: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Josh 1:9. Trust in Him! 
God bless!
Hello everyone! Let's lift up 
ἔρχομαι in Jesus' name.
Let's lift up 
