April 28, 2021: A Broken Dish Can be Mended, A Crushed Dish Cannot. We Must Be Broken to be Mended.

In the Book of Luke, in chapter 20, Jesus is sharing a parable of the "Tenants". This parable describes the story of a rich man who planted a vineyard and then rented it out to tenants. Read the following to see what happens:

Luke 20: 9-12

9 He went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time.10 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed.11 He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed.12 He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.

The rich man in this story is God and the vineyard in this parable is the world. The servants that the rich man sent are the "Prophets" that God has sent throughout history to see how the tenants (us) were caring for His vineyard. After sending several servants, (prophets) to the tenants and being rejected every time, the rich man decided to send his son, whom he thought the tenants would not reject. They not only rejected the son, but they killed the son. Read Luke 20: 13-14.

The Son in this parable is Jesus Christ. Over the centuries the message of repentance has been shared to all of us. The question to us is this: "What are we going to do with the "Son"? Are we going to turn our backs on "God's Son, Jesus", as well, or are we going "surrender" ourselves to Him?

Luke 20: 17-18 (NKJV)

17 Then He looked at them and said,

“What then is this that is written:

The stone which the builders rejected

Has become the chief cornerstone’?

18 Whoever falls on that stone will be broken;

but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”

We must choose to fall on the Stone, Jesus, and become broken so that God can pick up the pieces and mend us back together. It is upon our "brokenness" and "absolute surrender" to God that allows Him to put the pieces back together that fits His purpose. If we choose not to be broken, then we will eventually be "crushed" by the Stone.

Psalm 116: 5-7 (NKJV)

The Lord is gracious and righteous, our God is full of compassion.

6 The Lord protects the unwary when I was brought low, he saved me.

7 Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.

PERSONNAL COMMENT:

Let us choose to "fall upon the Stone of Jesus" and become broken by choice. Let us not wait too long in our choosing...This can become a devastating decision.