These remarks by My servant Paul reveal something important about what comforted and encouraged him in his loneliness as he faced the end of his race. It is important for you to recognize these things, because it was the attitude of his heart that enabled him to have that comfort in spite of the difficulty and the uncertainty of his circumstances. You see how he declares that at one point he was deserted by everyone. And throughout these final days, you see how he mentions that Demas had forsaken him because he loved this present world. But notice that he declares that I stood by him and gave him strength, so that even in the midst of this great trial, both caused by the forsaking of brethren and by the threat of death at the hands of the Roman government, you see him even in the face of these difficulties continuing to proclaim the message. So then, he is encouraged by the sense of My presence and the impartation of My strength. He is also encouraged because even during the trial, he has the opportunity to proclaim the message to the Gentiles. So then, no matter what the opposition, the trial, the pain of abandonment, My servant Paul remaining faithful to the end also finds through faith and faithfulness a cause to be encouraged. I want you also to notice the little phrase, “Get Mark because he is helpful to me in my ministry”. Recall how Mark had been a cause of great disappointment to Paul on the first journey that they took together in ministry. But you see here how that Mark had become transformed from that first time so that he was now considered helpful in Paul’s ministry.
And in seeing My faithful work in Mark to mature him and strengthen him so that he was now profitable, was also a great encouragement to My servant Paul. And you see also in his final greetings that he has a number of people who are still regarded as faithful brethren to whom he wishes to send greetings. I would say this to you, that as you are faithful to what I have given you as Paul was faithful, you will find even in the most difficult of circumstances, even as the cloud of death may hang over your head, that you like Paul will find comfort and strength in the midst of the trial. As Paul was aware of My presence to strengthen him so that he could continue to proclaim the message, so will you be aware and strengthened.
Even as he saw that his rescue from the lion’s mouth and from every evil attack was My doing, so shall that same comfort and encouragement be available to you.
Tags: Comfort, Encouragement, Faithfulness, Trials
I ask you as you read this portion, with whom are the conditions of the labor, the amount of payment, the nature and the location of the task, the length of the work? Is it not with the land owner? It is his vineyard where the work is to be carried out. He is the one who goes out again and again to enlist the workers. Those he chooses are all idle. It declares that they are standing doing nothing. Some are engaged early and some are engaged very late. And you see that to some he gives a clear word about what they shall receive for their labor and to others he merely says that he will pay them whatever is right. But in all aspects of the work, the conditions are according to the decision of the landowner. It is his initiative which provides the workers with the work. It is his vineyard into which they are called to work. It is his choice to give them the pay for the work. There was nothing being done that was fruitful and rewarding by the workers until he called them. Some worked long and some only a short time, but this too was the result of the landowner’s activity. Now what would I have you understand from this which My Son taught? I want you to come to that place where you will not be at all concerned about the place of the work, the conditions, the length or what you will receive as your wages. The landowner was not only generous in that he gave to those who came last as much as he gave to those who came first, but he was generous in that he continued to go out through the day, giving to those who were idle and needing work the opportunity to work and to receive wages. Have I not called you to work in My vineyard? Do you not desire to appreciate that all of the conditions related to your call are in My hands and will you not rest in your hearts in My generosity? And will you not be glad rather than complaining that the wages for the work will be as generous to those who have worked only a short time as they are to those who have worked a long time? I call you not to judge or to complain about the conditions of the work, but to work faithfully in My vineyard and to rest secure in My generosity. For that which I choose to give you and which I choose to give others will be characterized, not by natural human value, but by My generosity. Will you not take comfort in this, even though you may not fully understand all that characterizes the way I call and the way I reward My workers?
Tags: Faithfulness, God Faithful
I have spoken to you a number of times before from this portion and I know that you are thinking as I directed you to read again, “What more can be given to us from this portion?” Yet I know that you have struggled and despaired because it seemed to you that most of your efforts to share My Word and to present a testimony of My Son among those who do not believe have been fruitless. And it seems to you that few if any are open to hear and to consider seriously the testimony. It might have seemed this way to My Son as well, for it has been brought to your attention that previous to this meeting with this teacher of the law that he had met constant resistance and opposition, especially from the religious leaders, as well as from the Herodians. And from this He might have concluded that it was futile to continue to present the message among them. But you see here that even as He responded to their opposing efforts, there was among them one who observed and was favorably impressed with the way that My Son spoke to the opposers. And you see here that though he was a teacher of the law, he was also still an inquirer, a man with an open heart. And you see that he was genuinely concerned to know what My Son thought about My commandments and which of them was the most important. You see that the answer that My Son gave to his inquiry impressed him in a positive way.
Now consider that My Son left him only with an encouraging word, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God”. Do you wonder that He did not say more to this man that He did not seek to explain further to him about the Kingdom of God? But I want you to recognize that My Son understood that a seeking heart need not be overwhelmed or coerced with words and explanations beyond what is requested. And He well understood how important it was to leave the man with just enough of a testimony so that his seeking heart would look further. And I want you to understand from this, first of all, that there are those, even perhaps among the ones identified amongst opposers, whose hearts are open and seeking. I want you to understand that though the responses to your testimony seem to be mostly negative, that your faithfulness in testifying will be used of My Spirit to touch the inquiring heart. And I want to say to you that even though you may not have one of them come forward as this man did to My Son, yet your faithfulness will not go unnoticed, even though it may seem that way to you. And you can trust Me to give to you just that word which I choose to use. I want you to understand that is all that is required of you. For the work of convincing and convicting that will bring the inquirer into My kingdom is not yours but Mine. So be encouraged to be faithful to testify as I give to you to do so. And even though it seems limited, trust Me with the results.
Tags: Faithfulness, God Will, Testimony