NEVER WOULD HAVE MADE IT

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 5:1-7 (NRSV)

The unfaithful vineyard

Let me sing for my beloved
my love-song concerning his vineyard:
My beloved had a vineyard
on a very fertile hill.
He dug it and cleared it of stones,
and planted it with choice vines;
he built a watchtower in the midst of it,
and hewed out a wine vat in it;
he expected it to yield grapes,
but it yielded wild grapes.

And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem
and people of Judah,
judge between me
and my vineyard.
What more was there to do for my vineyard
that I have not done in it?
When I expected it to yield grapes,
why did it yield wild grapes?

And now I will tell you
what I will do to my vineyard.
I will remove its hedge,
and it shall be devoured;
I will break down its wall,
and it shall be trampled down.
I will make it a waste;
it shall not be pruned or hoed,
and it shall be overgrown with briers and thorns;
I will also command the clouds
that they rain no rain upon it.

For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts
is the house of Israel,
and the people of Judah
are his pleasant planting;
he expected justice,
but saw bloodshed;
righteousness,
but heard a cry!

DEVOTION

Let me tell you the truth. When I read today’s scripture, I said to myself, “What terrible bad news!”

This scripture is a parable—an earthly story with a heavenly meaning! In this earthly story a vinegrower does all that he knows to do to create a productive vineyard. He purchased productive land, cleared it of all obstructions, planted the best vines money could buy, built a wall around it, and hired people to watch over the land so that it would not be looted!

It is clear that the vinegrower had a very special relationship with the land and with the vines! But, something terrible happened! Although he made every provision for the land, it yielded wild grapes unfit to eat or drink! In a fit of rage and dissatisfaction, the vinegrower destroys the vineyard he had so lovingly tended.

OUCH!

There is a heavenly meaning behind this story; God is the vinegrower, human beings are the vines, and our works are the grapes.

God has loved us well, providing the best of everything on this Earth, to ensure our success. Most of us have been given life, health, and strength, and the activity of our minds and our limbs. All of us reading today have the blessing of air in our lungs, access to technology, and education enough to read these words. We are blessed with food, water, clothes, and shelter enough to stay alive (and some have much, much more than that). We have friends, family, and loved ones who bring us joy on a daily basis and we are surrounded by such beauty in nature and creation that it sometimes takes my breath away!

God gives us everything that we need to live healthy, happy, holy, and whole lives—including the gift of Jesus’ death upon the cross to forgive our sin and gift us with eternal lives—and many of us squander the gifts, blessings, and inheritance that is ours as beloved children of God.

We don’t have to look far—perhaps just to our television screens or inside of our own homes—to see that human beings are falling far, far short of the commandment to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Despite the good care that we get from God, and the loving sacrifice of Jesus, we produce “fruit” that God never intended. We have a life threatening illness called sin and we pass it from generation to generation teaching our children to lie, cheat, steal, kill, and blaspheme. We teach our children to covet the things of others, to be greedy and never satisfied, to be lawless—each one seeking only their own selfish gain.

How awful! Can you imagine how sad and mad this makes our God feel? But, do not despair dear friends! Jesus has already donated his blood which is the antidote to our sin-sickness. Jesus went to the cross, bled, suffered, and died, spilling out his blood, to make atonement for our sin and to secure our eternal future with God.

As a result of being washed in the blood of The Lamb (e.g., Jesus) we are now able to produce the type of “fruit” that pleases God. We are gifted with the Holy Spirit which brings forth the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self control (Galatians 5:22-23).

In the absence of a love relationship with God through Jesus Christ, we produce the “sour grapes” which are the fruit of sin. But, when we abide with—stay with—Jesus, we produce the sweet wine of a life saturated in Spirit.

Aren’t you glad that although God was disappointed with us, God did not give up on the vineyard? Aren’t you overjoyed that although we fell short of the mark, God made provision for our ultimate success?

Listen my friends, we never would have made it without God’s love! It was God’s love that simply surrounded us, rescuing us from all of our mess! God makes us stronger, wiser, better…

Today, we have the opportunity to share this GOOD NEWS testimony with others! Look around my friends and find someone whose life is yielding “sour grapes.” Then tell them The Truth. “God loves, gave, and saves!”

As your non-Christian friend gets a hold of The Truth, their “sour grapes” will be transformed into the fruit of the Spirit which will help to transform our world.

Now, listen, it may not be fast and it may not be easy, s/he may not change overnight, but do not be discouraged! God is at work—in and through you—to win your dear friend to Christ!

Simply be faithful to the GOOD NEWS message in your words and in your deeds and trust that God will do everything else necessary to love your friend to Jesus.

Will you make up your mind to turn “sour grapes” into “sweet wine” today?

Holy God, thank you that you love us so much that you were willing to send Jesus as atonement for our sin and as the door to eternal life. Please help me to produce the sweet wine of the spirit. Please forgive me for producing sour grapes in the past. I love you and I never, ever want to disappoint you! Please help me to share GOOD NEWS with those who need to hear it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Congratulations to the people who have recently put all of their faith in Jesus! We are so excited about your new-found faith in Jesus! You are in our thoughts and prayers!

If you would like to put all of your hope in Jesus today, please visit my blog entitled, “Putting All Your Hope In Jesus” located at
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/04/putting-all-your-hope-in-jesus.html

If you have additional questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, "Come to Jesus"
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html

Pastor Yolanda is now publishing another blog entitled, “A Spoken WORD” in celebration of Holy Hip Hop, Gospel/Christian Rap and Spoken Word. Please check it out @ http://aspokenword.blogspot.com/

You are invited to follow Pastor Yolanda on Twitter www.twitter.com/PastorYolanda

Good News has now added a Prayer Ministry. http://www.kindlejoy.com/groups/goodnews
You are invited to leave comments or questions regarding today’s devotional. These comments are public.

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Thanks for reading and please come again. Pastor Yolanda extends a very special welcome to all of our friends reading outside of the United States of America! We are honored that you are sharing with us today.

From Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com