Eliza King sings, ‘I Shall Not Want’. Wherever you are now, look around you. Where can you see God active in some way? Can you take this time to place your trust for today in God’s hands of love?

I shall not want

I shall not want

For where He leads me to lie

There's always green pastures, blue sky

And where He leads me to rest

Oh the water's quiet there

The whole word is quiet there

I shall not want

I shall not want

For when the valley is deep

And death is like a shadow taunting me

There is no need to fear

For the Shepherd is no stranger here

He will lead me to the clear

And He restores my soul

And His kindness keeps me close

In the chaos and the noise

He's the still, small voice

I shall not want

I shall not want

For He invites me to know

The abundance of His table

And I am seated in view

Of every valley that we walked through

And He restores my soul

And awakens buried hope

In the chaos and the noise

He's the still, small voice

You fill my cup till it overflows

I want for nothing, I want for nothing

All through my life, every season shows

Goodness and mercy follow behind me

You fill my cup till it overflows

I want for nothing, I want for nothing

All through my life, every season shows

Goodness and mercy follow behind me

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want

Up on His shoulders He carries me home

Carries me home

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 21:33-43

‘Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watch-tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, “They will respect my son.” But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.” So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’ They said to him, ‘He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.’

Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures:

“The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone;

this was the Lord’s doing,

and it is amazing in our eyes”?

Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom.

In today’s scripture, Jesus tells a parable to those who do not believe in him. A story can be a wonderful way of teaching. Let us join the observers.

The people would recognise the scene in the vineyard. The landowner values his property; it is carefully prepared and entrusted to the tenants. Notice the tenants. Notice their confidence, their familiarity with the place, their sense of ownership.

Now imagine the servants arriving. Then the son. Let the scene unfold without rushing. Where are you in the parable today? What emotions surface? Where do you recognise yourself - and perhaps resist that recognition?

“They will respect my son.” On the contrary, the tenants believed that they were the owners; they deserved the respect. Are there places in your life that you have claimed as your own and not recognised the Lord?

As you listen to the passage again, consider how you might hand back those parts of your life in surrender and trust.

Matthew 21:33-43

‘Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watch-tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, “They will respect my son.” But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.” So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’ They said to him, ‘He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.’

Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures:

“The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone;

this was the Lord’s doing,

and it is amazing in our eyes”?

Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom.

“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”

For the final part of this prayer, let Jesus bring you to one side, alone with him, and share your thoughts with him.

You have given all to me

To you, Lord, I return it

Everything is Yours

Do with it what You will

Give me only Your love and Your grace

That is enough for me

Amen