BE CAREFUL WHOM YOU DRIVE AWAY!

Monday, 04 June 2007

Reading: Mark 12:1-12

Jesus told the leaders of the people a parable to help them to get a better look at their ancestors and themselves. He wanted them to understand that the land of Israel belonged to God, that he was letting the Jewish people live there and take care of the land, that he expected them to become better people because of it. All he asked in return for his generosity was for them to listen to him and obey his laws. For it was only in doing that that they could ever be happy on any land on earth or in eternity.

God often sent prophets to help them and steer them in the right direction. Often they ignored the prophets, even killed some of them. Jesus predicted they would kill him, God’s Son, also. And then the Jewish people would lose the land they cherished so much. What does this have to do with us?

This earth we live on, this country we live in: It belongs to God. He is letting us live here and take care of it. We are to grow into good people here, and then move on to a much better place. To do that we must learn to love God and do his will. God sends people into our lives to steer us in the direction he wants us to go. We don’t think of them as prophets, some of them we don’t even think of as friends. In fact, there might be some who make our lives miserable at times. Appreciate all of them, all the people in your life; be careful whom you drive away. It just might be someone God has sent for your good. It just might even be the Son of God Himself. The Jews made that mistake. Don’t you!