Elizabeth Mowers

Growing up as a kid attending public school, I was surprised the first time someone learned I was a Christian and told me what I believed. Usually they had a skewed idea of what Christianity was and a skewed idea of who I was as a representative of Christ. They categorized my faith not by what I stood for but by what I was against. Other Christians had already left a poor impression on them (and their parents). Love, kindness, generosity, self sacrifice and forgiveness, were qualities that never made the top ten.

In the Parable of the Tenants, Jesus drives home a point to the chief priests and Pharisees. He calls them out for their hypocrisy; They keep the law outwardly but the true condition of their hearts is a failure. If Jesus stood against something, it would be their actions. But He isn’t haughty or superior or self righteous when speaking to them, as they themselves behave to others. He doesn’t spew the truth. I would imagine Jesus’ tone and delivery was anything but offensive. The truth he spoke was clearly offensive in and of itself.

We pray:

Heavenly Father, as Christians, we already know how this all ends. Please open my eyes to areas in my own life where my heart is not aligned with you. And help me to speak with both truth and love, as Christ has done, so I can better share the message of salvation with others. Amen.