What would it look like for you if you are laboring with the Lord in His vineyard?
" Wherefore, go to, and call servants, that we may labor diligently with our might in the vineyard, that we may prepare the way, that I may bring forth again the natural fruit, which natural fruit is good and the most precious above all other fruit.
62 Wherefore, let us go to and labor with our might this last time, for behold the end draweth nigh, and this is for the last time that I shall prune my vineyard." (Jacob 5: 61-62)
"70 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard sent his aservant; and the servant went and did as the Lord had commanded him, and brought other bservants; and they were cfew.
71 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and alabor in the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the blast time that I shall cnourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come.
72 And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things.
73 And there began to be the natural fruit again in the vineyard; and the natural branches began to grow and thrive exceedingly; and the wild branches began to be plucked off and to be cast away; and they did keep the root and the top thereof equal, according to the strength thereof.
74 And thus they labored, with all diligence, according to the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard, even until the bad had been cast away out of the vineyard, and the Lord had preserved unto himself that the trees had become again the natural fruit; and they became like unto aone body; and the fruits were equal; and the Lord of the vineyard had preserved unto himself the natural fruit, which was most precious unto him from the beginning.
75 And it came to pass that when the aLord of the vineyard saw that his fruit was good, and that his vineyard was no more corrupt, he called up his servants, and said unto them: Behold, for this last time have we nourished my vineyard; and thou beholdest that I have done according to my will; and I have preserved the natural fruit, that it is good, even like as it was in the beginning. And bblessed art thou; for because ye have been diligent in laboring with me in my vineyard, and have kept my commandments, and have brought unto me again the cnatural fruit, that my vineyard is no more corrupted, and the bad is cast away, behold ye shall have djoy with me because of the fruit of my vineyard." (Jacob 5: 70-75)
And here's the commentary entitled: "The Lord invites me to labor with Him in His vineyard":
"The “other servants” (Jacob 5:70) who were called into the Lord’s vineyard include people like you. What truths do you find in Jacob 5, especially verses 61–62 and 70–75, about working in the Lord’s vineyard? What have you learned about Him by helping with His work?"
Laboring in the Lord's vineyard brings so much joy indeed. The Lord does care so much about each of us, His children. He loves us and He doesn't want to leave anyone behind. That's why He provided a way for everyone to be given the chance to be nourished with his own words--the exact reason why He has called and still is continuing to call other servants to labor with Him in His vineyard.
It's a great privilege and opportunity for me to labor with Him in His vineyard ffull-time for 18 months when I was 21 until I reached 23. As I devoted my time and energy to His work, I, myself did learn and grow a lot and transformed to become my better version, even as He is. I had tremendous growth indeed during those times in my life. And I did gain a lot of spiritual strength indeed then. My relationship with the Lord has deepened as I learned to rely more on Him during trying moments while I was serving in His vineyard. Such experience added great strength to my spiritual foundation. And I've been able to continue to rely on the Lord more as I face more challenges in this life's journey. And though I'm no longer laboring in the Lord's vineyard full-time after that 18-month-period was over, I continue to do the Lord's work as much as I can and I keep on learning and growing to become my better version. And as I transform, life becomes more joyous as I'm getting closer and closer to reaching my full potential as a child of God. Life is a mission, not a career. When I am fulfilling the mission God has sent me to do right here, I am helping myself to transform to become more like Him.
No comments:
Post a Comment