Matthew 19:27 - 20:16 "The Last Will Be First"

Good Morning Calvary Chapel Lake City!

Parents you may dismiss your kids!

If you don’t have a Bible...

Please join us this Thursday at 7pm for our Mid-Week Bible Study in Genesis.

Starting tonight at 6pm, we are beginning Youth Group which will meet right here at Lakeland.

If you are new to Calvary Chapel…I’m Pastor Marc, welcome!

Welcome Card!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please turn in your Bibles to Matthew 19. Today, we are looking at Matt 19:27 to Matt 20:16.

I mentioned last week that we would finish this series “The King’s Road to Preparation” today, but I was a little ambitious…maybe next week.

Last week, we saw as Jesus was departing Perea, a rich young ruler ran after Him and bowed down to ask Jesus a question, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

Despite seemingly having it all…prosperity, prime of age, position…even being a man of character- spiritually minded, respectful to Jesus, moral (he said he ‘loved his neighbor as himself’ and kept the law since his youth).

Despite all these things... this young man realized there was a God shaped vacuum in his life…and he came to Jesus to find out what ‘good thing’ he needed to do beyond keeping the law to inherit eternal life.

But, eternal life is not earned by works…salvation is a free gift of grace obtained ONLY by faith in Jesus Christ.

The issue with this man was idolatry...he had something in his life that he loved more than God…identified as his “great possessions.”

True were Jesus’ words in Matt 6:24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

This man desired eternal life, but desired worldly possessions more, and Jesus put his finger precisely on the idol in this man’s life and tells him he must give it up.

And, the rich young ruler went away sorrowful because he was not ready to part from his many possessions. And, so it is for so many people today…when God tells them to sacrifice their idol…they walk away sorrowful.

Jesus willingly sacrificed His life to pay the price for our sins, but many will not sacrifice their sins to inherit eternal life. It’s the key problem with America today…we are an idolatrous nation.

As the rich young ruler walks away sorrowful, Jesus has a teaching moment with His disciples, we read in Matt 19:23-26 “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Jews held this notion that material prosperity was equivalent to God’s blessings. If it was hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven…even impossible if they were trusting in their riches and good works…then ‘Who could be saved?’

Humanly speaking, salvation is impossible. Salvation is not a work of mankind…it’s a work of God and only possible by God’s grace.

After this teaching moment, I’m utterly confident that the disciples were taking in Jesus’ “words of eternal life”…astonished…amazed…

...and then we read those infamous words… “Then Peter...” This guy! I’ve asked my wife to make me a shirt that says, “Then Peter...” I love that phrase, and what follows.

“Then Peter” 21x; “But Peter” 17x; “And Peter” 9x…Peter has a lot of funny things to say, but if it were not for him, we would have much less dialogue between the disciples and Jesus. So, thank you Peter for all the times you put your foot in your mouth!

Because of Peter’s comment and question in V27, Jesus gives a picture of what life will be like for believers in the regeneration…the millennial reign of Jesus Christ.

And note a key phrase that ties Jesus’ lesson together… Matt 19:30 and Matt 20:16.

Matt 19:30 “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Matt 20:16 “So the last will be first, and the first last.”

This phrase drives home the key point…God is sovereign, and His kingdom decisions are governed by His goodness and His grace.

The title of today’s message is, “The Last Will Be First.”

Let’s Pray!

Matt 19:27 “Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”

Often, Jesus makes a statement...then talks some more…then Peter chimes in and references back several verses. Peter seems to have this pattern where he gets stuck on a saying of Jesus.

It dawned on me...Peter is a processor, and I like this about Peter, because I am a processor.

If you ever talk to me and I’m quietly listening, and you think I’m bored or disinterested ... you could be right -OR- I may just be processing.

Sometimes my family makes fun of me because they ask me a question, and I don’t respond until 5 minutes later. Processing.

So, here’s how I see Peter processing… in Matt 19:21 Jesus, said to the rich young ruler, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

Then in V27, Peter said, “See we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”

I’m not even sure Peter heard VSS 22-26.

And, married ladies…you know this is true. If your husband is deep in thought, he doesn’t hear a word you say. It’s a male superpower… intense focus…it’s a gift!

Peter is thinking about the reality that the disciples lived out what Jesus said in V21…they left all and followed Jesus.

And, what a sacrifice! Just think of all the fish scales... and guts Peter was missing out on. “Oh to smell like fish again,” Peter must have thought. Tremendous sacrifice.

Jesus said to Peter and Andrew in Matt 4:19, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.”

And, what a calling of grace…when Peter was called, he wasn’t the most qualified…He was a simple man…a fisherman…He was impulsive…violent (he would cut Malchus’ ear off)…uneducated... untrained... he wasn’t rich and in power, nor did he have the best character traits...

If you are here today, and you are thinking I can’t be called…for whatever reason. “I’m not spiritual enough. I don’t read the bible enough. I love the things of this world too much.” That’s nonsense.

“God has chosen the foolish things of the world… that no flesh should glory in His presence.”

The disciples all left their trades, their homes, their families…They “left all” and followed Jesus. I appreciate this about them. They were called to follow Jesus and they obeyed.

More people are like the rich young ruler…they walk away sorrowful.

In the Parable of the Sower, Mark 4:18-19 Jesus said, “Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”

The rich young ruler seemingly had it all…but became unfruitful in his calling.

God doesn’t need the most qualified person…He requires an obedient heart. If He calls… “come…follow me...” Are you going to be like Peter and follow Him -or- walk away sorrowful like the rich young ruler?

So, since they “left all and followed” Jesus, Peter asks, “Therefore what shall we have?”

Gotta love this guy...Peter, reflecting upon the fact that the rich, young ruler did not follow, but THEY DID! They made sacrifices to follow Jesus, and in V21 Jesus said, “you will have treasure in heaven.”

Tell me more about that! “We followed you…therefore what shall we have?”

EVERLASTING LIFE PETER!! Check your heart attitude…be thankful!

1 Tim 6:6 “Now godliness with contentment is great gain."

Be content. Be thankful. God is gracious and has blessed us!

And, don’t forget the blessing of the journey…the journey of walking with Jesus in this lifetime is part of the reward!

I don’t think Peter fully understood the amazing journey he was on, in this moment, but he would get it…he’s a processor…

In Peter’s epistles…

He later writes about a ‘living hope’, “...inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you...”

He describes ‘faith’ as “…much more precious than gold that perishes...”

He began to look past the present world, “...we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”

Peter indeed would eventually come to truly “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...” as he wrote at the end of his 2nd epistle, but in Matt 19, he has some questions… “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”

Jesus will not only teach about God’s grace and goodness, but in answering this question...He tangibly demonstrates grace and goodness as Jesus stoops down to answer this question Peter asked on behalf of all the disciples… “…what shall we have?”

Matt 19:28 “So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly [“Truly”] I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

To Peter and the Apostles specifically, Jesus gives the promise that in the regeneration- “the renewal of all things;” “when the world is made new” they will sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.

This will happen after the 7 year tribulation when Jesus returns to earth in His 2nd coming and ushers in His Millennial or literal 1000 Year Reign on earth.

This is confirmed by Jesus’ statement in V28 “when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory...”

“Son of Man” is a favorite messianic title that Jesus uses for Himself…88x in the New Testament.

One of the strongest OT cross references is Dan 7:13-14 “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.”

And, during the Millennium, Jesus, the saints, and the disciples are going to be sorting out who has been faithful, and who has not...

Matt 25:31-32 speaks about who Jesus will judge... “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations [ĕthnŏs- nations or Gentiles] will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.”

That event is referred to the “Sheep Goat Judgment” or “The Judgment of the Nations” where Jesus judges Gentiles who went through the tribulation.

For the saints, that’s you and I, Paul states 1 Cor 6:2 “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?" and in V3 “Do you not know that we shall judge angels?”

So, there will be judgments also trusted to Christians who are co-heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17). Exactly what that looks like…especially judging angels…I cannot say.

I don’t know about you, but I think this is going to be a little weird. I mean how do you even talk to Cherubim and not be distracted? Eyes front buddy…no…no…your... your other head.

And, the Apostles role... here in Matt 19:28 Jesus tells the Apostles, “...you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Later on, Jesus will again say to the Apostles in Luke 22:29-30 “And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

So, Jesus is giving them a sneak peek of some of their duties and rewards…and ours too. You who have been faithful now in this lifetime…this is your future.

And, then in V29, Jesus makes a very general promise of blessing to anyone who has faith in Christ…all Christians...

Matt 19:29-30 “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

The rich young ruler was not willing to sacrifice his idol…his great possessions…thus he went away sorrowful. Contrast, in V29, Jesus promises that everyone who has sacrificed…key “for My name’s sake”...Mark adds “...for My name’s sake and the gospel’s...”; Luke states “...for the sake of the kingdom of God...”

People leave home and family, and where they grew up for careers all the time…I did that in 2008…moved from Maryland to Chicagoland to take a career promotion…for my name’s sake…self-promotion…building my kingdom... no promise of a hundredfold and eternal life for that.

He or she who has sacrificed for God’s glory…there is a two-fold promise…blessing in this lifetime (“a hundredfold”) and obtaining eternal life through inheritance.

Inheritance is the lot you obtain through someone’s death. Through faith, you are an heir to eternal life because of Jesus’ death.

Jesus rewards the person who has faith in Him, and answers the calling, “come and follow me”…

God smiles at sacrifice for His name’s sake…

He delights in the obedience to walk away from all one knows if and when He calls.

He loves the heart that holds nothing on earth above the Lord. The person who is open-handed with their life.

For faith…they inherit eternal life. Eternal life is only ever by faith, not by works.

For answering the call and making the sacrifice for Jesus’ name’s sake, they shall receive a hundredfold. And, specifically Jesus cited three things: houses, family, and lands.

The parallel account in Mark…Mark 10:29-31 speaks on this two-fold blessing more completely…Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children [Jesus omits “wives”…because that would just be weird] and lands [lit. “fields”], with persecutions [thank you Mark for adding that detail…keeps our prosperity friends in check]—and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

The promise of hundredfold blessing is two-fold… “in this time” (the present church age), and the “age to come” (the age following Jesus’ return).

God alone knows how this 100x blessing is rewarded. He ways are mysterious and diverse, and He will reward according to His thoughts and His ways.

A 100x blessing does not necessarily equate to a literal material blessings 100x multiplied…not material quid pro quo, though God could. I interpret this hundredfold blessing as some combination of spiritual, material…multiplied Christian life and community... that God honors us with for sacrificing for Him.

Jesus uses examples of ‘houses, family and lands’ being multiplied. And, I would testify that when Jesus called my family to ministry in 2012, and we sacrificed, leaving home, family, career, and possessions for His name’s sake and the gospel’s…we’ve seen tremendous return.

Houses: if you are open handedly following the Lord…you will likely live in many homes, and be the guest in many homes.

Since our calling in 2012, we have lived in 7 homes (because we moved when He said, “Go”)... I’m not even sure how many homes we’ve been guests at.

Family: The Christian life greatly multiplies friends and fellowship. Many Christians are closer to their spiritual family than their blood-ties. They relate deeper to other Christians.

We have Christian family all over the world. Christian brothers and sisters. Spiritual father’s and mother’s. And, spiritual children…people we have led to the Lord, baptized, mentored.

Lands: You may own the title deed to your land, but Jesus owns the title deed to the earth. It’s all His!

Since our calling in 2012, we have lived in 3 U.S. States, and the Philippines.

Mark adds Persecutions: The reality is if you stick your neck out for Jesus in the present age, the world is hostile towards Jesus, and that hatred towards Him may overflow onto you.

But, oh how spoiled we are as Americans to not know persecution. Spoiled by definition means, “a person harmed in character by being treated too leniently or indulgently.” Spoiled also means, “food unfit for eating.”

Our lack of persecution as a nation has truly harmed our character and made much of the church unfit. We think of persecution as a bad thing... but, persecution also strengthens the church…it refines the church. The persecuted church is not lukewarm... they truly rely on one another, and more importantly they rely on God. So, there is blessing in the persecution.

I like in Acts 5, the Apostles are beaten for teaching in Jesus’ name, and commanded not to speak in the name of Jesus. Acts 5:41-42 reads, “So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”

Persecuted for His name’s sake and they counted it a blessing.

About 30 years later Peter would write, 1 Pet 4:12-14 “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.”

Peter lived this out and earned the right to write these things.

Paul, also persecuted for Christ, wrote 2 Tim 3:12-15, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

How important has it been for Christians to be thoroughly equipped by knowing the word of God so as to not be deceived? Persecutions will come.

In these last days, be plugged in…go to a Bible Teaching Church…go to mid-week Bible study…and personally invest time in the word. Paul said, “…you must continue in the things which you have learned.”

Before persecution truly comes…make sure your house is built on the rock so it does not fall.

Jesus then says to Peter, “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Jesus promises “...a hundredfold now in this time...and in the age to come, eternal life.” And, then throws out this rather enigmatic statement, “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

This is a key phrase that Jesus repeats…here in Matt 19:30... He alludes to it in Matt 20:8... repeats the phrase in Matt 20:16…and alludes to it again in Matt 20:27.

As Jesus is heading to the cross... He repeats this idea to drive home the point to His disciples of how God conducts His business. Kingdom citizens, kingdom economy, kingdom decision…is all based on grace.

To help His disciples understand, He gives the following parable in Matt 20:1-16.

The Parable is called “The Parable of Laborers in the Vineyard. ” Parable, meaning to “cast alongside.” They illustrate heavenly truths by casting them alongside natural truths. Parables are not doctrinal…they are illustrations.

Let’s begin this parable by observing the natural... and then interpret to understand the spiritual implications, and finally form an application for our lives today.

Matt 20:1-16 “For the kingdom of heaven is like [is like…parabolic language. Jesus is illustrating what the “kingdom of heaven” is like...] a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. [This is a vineyard... the crop is grapes. ‘Morning’ would be roughly 6-8 am. A standard work day was 10 hours, but extended hours would not have been unexpected during the urgent harvest season.] 2 Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. [they agreed upon the standard laborers days wage…which was fair] 3 And he went out about the third hour [9am] and saw others standing idle in the marketplace [where the laborers assembled], 4 and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. [notice…no agreed upon wages from here out…just “whatever is right.”] 5 Again he went out about the sixth [12pm] and the ninth hour [3pm], and did likewise. [there’s a sense of urgency to get the harvest in.] 6 And about the eleventh hour [5pm] he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’ 8 “So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward [a foreman], ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ [according to Lev 19:13 it was customary to pay the laborers at the end of each work day... so they could buy food for their families.] 9 And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. [this was generous…it would have been fair for them to receive a fraction of a denarius for the hour they worked, but the foreman pays the full wage]. 10 But when the first came, they supposed [a presumption] that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. 11 And when they had received it, they complained [they murmured, they grumbled] against the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ [Through a natural lens, this is a fair complaint!] 13 But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. [which was his right] 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ [And, this is the key issue… their heart attitude…the evil eye was a Jewish idiom for covetousness…envy…jealousy…and he challenges them on this point]. 16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.” [Emphasizing His choosing and His rewards are based on grace].

So, that’s the observation of the natural. Again, a parable casts a spiritual truth alongside a natural truth. It’s a word picture to help illustrate a point.

Some quick interpretations, as many scholars see it...if you haven’t gathered these already.

The ‘landowner’ is God...

The ‘laborers’ are us…

The ‘vineyard’ is the world...

The ‘day of work’ is one’s life…

And, the ‘payment…the day’s wage’ is, most likely, looking at rewards given at the Bema Seat Judgment for believers.

So, what is the point of this parable? Three key points...

One...This is a parable about grace.

The landowner was accused of being unfair…but, in actuality he was fair…even more than fair…exceedingly generous to most.

The issue was not the fairness of the landowner, but the evil eyes of the workers... envy, jealousy, and even trying to tell the landowner how to conduct his business.

The landowner is God and it’s God’s business how He decides to reward…and He chose grace, not works.

God is good, and his system is good. If God judged us based on our works…none of us would see heaven.

Two…This is a parable about God’s sovereign judgments and rewards.

This parable is humbling because it puts us in our place. God is the landowner…we are the laborers, and He has the legal right to reward how He sees fit.

God knows how to judge and reward perfectly because He knows up perfectly. We have no ideal how to judge with righteous judgment like God does.

Pro 16:2 “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the spirits.”

We think so high of ourselves, but God truly knows our hearts, our motives…and He will reward based on these deeper intentions.

There is a future day when all believers “appear before the judgment seat of Christ.” 1 Cor 3:13-14 reads “...each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.”

At Jesus’ Bema Seat, we will give an account, and He will reveal the purity of our account…judging and rewarding perfectly.

And, at that time, when we stand in glory, raised in incorruption, none of us will be upset with God’s system of rewarding like these vineyard workers were. We will praise and worship Him for His righteous judgments.

You’ll rejoice in God’s gracious judgments…there won’t be place for envy…only astonishment at how good God is…

You’ll be like the Psalmist who wrote in Ps 119:137 “Righteous are You, O LORD, And upright are Your judgments.”

In heaven, we will see the big picture. Maybe the thief on the cross didn’t walk with God long, but how many times has his story been shared to inspire death bed conversions?

Maybe a faithful grandmother didn’t have a big ministry, but God rewards her greater than Billy Graham because she faithfully raised her grandson in the training and admonition of the Lord. And, his life had a ripple effect on the world around him.

Paul wrote, 1 Cor 13:12 “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”

The third and final point… Jesus tells this parable in response to Peter’s question about what rewards they will receive. Peter compares the disciples who left all to follow Jesus to the rich young ruler, who did not.

Likewise, in this parable, the workers who worked the full day compared their efforts with those who only worked part of the day, and grumbled about their reward.

Remember... Jesus just put his finger on the heart issue of the rich young ruler (idolatry of possessions)…now... Jesus is also putting His finger on Peter’s heart…a desire for equity…a desire for reward…an envious and evil eye.

These things will be an issue for the disciples. Next week we will look at James and John and their ambition to sit on the right hand and the left of Jesus in His kingdom.

At the end of John’s gospel, Jesus will speak to Peter about Peter’s death and Peter will ask about John. Jesus responds, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”

There’s a saying, “Stay in your lane!” And, too often we compare our lives to other peoples lives…and we become covetous. When we get our eyes on the horizontal…envy, jealousy, equity, covetousness…we feel emotions and think thoughts that are NOT divine.

When we keep our eyes on the vertical…on Jesus... we live live’s of holiness. Jesus said to Peter, “…what is that to you? You follow Me.”

We need to stay in our lane. We need to keep our eyes on the Lord…and not concern ourselves with how God rewards and blesses other people. Maybe God has given them a hundredfold material blessing. And, maybe God can trust them because they are wise stewards who use it for His glory.

Paul said, Rom 14:4 “Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls.” Let God be God. It’s His kingdom and it’s His business how he judges and rewards His servants.

To sum this parable up in a sentence. God’s sovereign and gracious judgments are being contrasted with man’s evil heart attitudes.

We need to be careful not to look down upon God’s goodness and graciousness, and trust that He is a lot better at running the universe and distributing rewards than we are.

So, if He determines to reward the last first, and the first last…so be it. He is God…and we are not. He is going to reward differently than we would do it…which is great... it’s going to be perfect.

Grace is a much better system…you’ll fair much better in eternity. Just be thankful. Don’t have evil in your eye toward God. “Godliness with contentment is great gain.”

God is Sovereign…it’s His Kingdom, and He will reward as He sees fit, and we can rest easy knowing God’s character... God is love, and His economy is based on grace.

Let’s pray!

Read ahead…we should finish Matt 20 next week…hopefully.

If you need prayer!

“The LORD bless you and keep you;

The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;

The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’