I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day, or more. in advance. My work schedule has recently changed, meaning that I may not have time every day to complete these. As a result, I am trying to get several days ahead. I hope this does not negatively impact the quality of these posts (if that is possible). If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

     Pharaoh repeatedly promised to do as God commanded and then changed his mind when God made things better. A time was finally reached when Pharaoh no longer had the ability to do as God asked. There is an important lesson for us here, if we reject God’s will for our lives often enough, a time will come when we will have backed ourselves in a corner and we will find it impossible to do what God asks of us. I pray that I never let my pride back me into a corner where God has to do to me to do His will what He needed to do to Pharaoh to get Pharaoh to do His will!

     Jesus compares heaven to a rich landowner who hires laborers to work in his vineyards over the course of a day. The important lesson about this story is that, whether we come to serve God early or late, He will reward us with eternity in heaven. There is another point that is not so important to the story, but of interest. The premise of the story is that a rich man has every right to do whatever he chooses with the money he had. He may do good things with it, or selfish things with it. In either case, Jesus assumes that no one else has the right to tell him what he must do with his money.
     Later, the mother of James and John approached Jesus and asked Him to give them places of special prominence in His kingdom. When the other disciples heard about this request they were angry. Jesus then taught an important lesson about leadership. Those with authority in the world use that authority to be served by others. Normal human activity is to acquire a position of leadership so that one can dump all of the unpleasant tasks on someone else. Jesus tells us that if we follow His example, we will use whatever position of leadership or authority which we acquire in order to do the unpleasant tasks that no one else wants to do. True leaders sacrifice their own wants and desires in order for the members of the group they lead to enjoy it more.

     Yes, I will give my life to God. I will trust Him with all that I have and all that I am. Teach me Lord to follow the path that you have laid out for me, show me Your road. Rest Your Spirit upon me so that I take the path to which you guide me. Give me the humility to walk in the ways You have chosen for me.

     Let me learn to work hard, even when no one is holding me accountable. Motivate me to act now rather than wait until the deadline approaches.