Jesus said to them, “Have you
never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone. This came from the Lord and is
wonderful in our eyes? Therefore
I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a
nation producing its fruit. [Whoever falls on this stone will be broken to
pieces; but on whoever it falls, it will grind him to powder!]” When the
chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they knew He was speaking
about them. Although they were looking for a way to arrest Him, they
feared the crowds, because they regarded Him as a prophet.
Insights: Monday, I mentioned an
inference was made about God’s desire for us and that we would discuss it later
in the week. The same inference was made
in yesterday’s verses. The nature of the
inference is found in today’s verses when it states, “. . . the
kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing its fruit (italics mine).” We had, here at Little River Baptist Church,
a pastor, Bob Jackson, who was fond of saying, “If getting saved was all God
desired of us, then the moment we got saved He would have taken us to
heaven.” The point Reverend Jackson made
was our lives are to be more than just receiving salvation. Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:8-10, “For by
grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is
the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we
are his workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus for good works, which God
prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (italics mine).” Notice after
Paul’s famous words on salvation he then moves to the point of God’s will
regarding our lives. We are workman
created to do work that God had already prepared for us to do before we even
came to know Jesus as our Savior. There
is a warning for us today in our verses.
Let me quote the key phrase again, “the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to
a nation producing its fruit (italics
mine).” The Jews were supposed to
reach out to those who did not know God and they refused to do it. As a result, God removed His hand of favor
from them and gave it to the gentiles. I
fear the modern day church, with its lack of zeal for the lost, are endanger of
having the hand of God’s favor removed from us.
Let us, Beloved, bear fruit and bring God glory.
Questions:
- How well do you receive the warning of Christ Jesus?
- Is your life bearing fruit?
Prayer: O Lord, I desire to be an obedient servant. The early church prayed regularly for
boldness of faith. Lord, grant me such
boldness. Amen.
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