God's Goodness

You can always find God’s goodness in your life, if you slow down and take time to observe!
I was reading the Parable of the Evil Farmers, in the Bible, during my devotional time. I don’t think I’ve ever read this passage of scriptures—or this is the first time the scripture reading really spoke to me.   Read Luke 20:9-19

Christianity THEN & TODAY
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Jesus Christ tells a story about a vineyard carefully prepared and generously entrusted to others. Everything the farmers needed was already provided—the land, the protection, the opportunity to produce fruit. Their responsibility was simple: be faithful with what was given.

The tragedy of the farmers wasn’t ignorance—it was entitlement. They knew the vineyard was not theirs, yet they acted as if it was. And that is where this story speaks directly to us today.
 
The vineyard represents all that God has given—our lives, our gifts, our communities, our faith. The owner prepared it carefully, protected it, and made it fruitful. Then he entrusted it to the farmers, expecting faithfulness, gratitude, and obedience.
 
But instead of honoring the owner, the farmers claimed the vineyard as their own. When messengers were sent, they rejected them. When correction came, they resisted it. And when the son arrived—the ultimate act of grace—they chose violence over surrender.
 
God still sends messengers today—through Scripture, through conscience, through wise counsel, and through the quiet prompting of the Holy Spirit, when we slow down enough to receive His grace.
Jesus ends the story by reminding us of the cornerstone—the stone once rejected that becomes essential. What we dismiss as inconvenient truth is often what God intends as our foundation.

So today, let us respond differently than the tenants did.
Let us receive correction with humility.
Let us honor the Owner with faithfulness.
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And let us remember: the vineyard flourishes when we serve God, when we receive His gentle guidance and not when we replace Him with things in this world.
May we be found as faithful stewards, not stubborn owners.

Today’s Prayer:
Lord, help me remember that all I have comes from You. Teach me to be a faithful steward, open to Your truth, and willing to honor You with my life. Amen.

With gratitude and grace,
Phyllis Baskin
Office Manager