The One Year Bible New Testament for New Beginnings by DaySpring NLT, Filament Enabled - Book - Page 56
36
E NCOU R AG E M E N T
Sometimes new beginnings require sacri昀椀ces, maybe more than we ever expected.
We may 昀椀nd we need to let go of old habits, routines, ideas, or perspectives—or even
give up what’s comfortable and familiar to answer Jesus’ call: “Come, follow me”
(Matthew 19:21).
In hard moments, we may wonder if we can really do this and if it is worth it.
The rich man didn’t answer Jesus’ call, but Jesus says we can if we lean on God and it
will be worth it. With God, everything is possible. He understands how dif昀椀cult and
painful change is for us. He sees our confusion, disappointments, and frustrations. He
asks us to trust him that nothing is wasted. He is at work, and one day we will receive
the reward he has in store for us.
day 3 0 | MATTHEW 20:1-28
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
“For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers
for his vineyard. 2He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work.
3
“At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people
standing around doing nothing. 4So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was
right at the end of the day. 5So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock
he did the same thing.
6
“At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around.
He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’
7
“They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’
“The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’
8
“That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last
workers first. 9When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. 10When
those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid
a day’s wage. 11When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, 12‘Those people worked only
one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching
heat.’
13
“He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for
the usual wage? 14Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. 15Is it
against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind
to others?’
16
“So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”
17
As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them
what was going to happen to him. 18“Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of
Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him
to die. 19Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified.
But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”
