What Jesus Did! 'Reversal!' — Matthew 20:16

Friday, September 19, 2025

[At the end of his parable about the Kingdom of Heaven being like workers hired at different times during the day, Jesus said,] "So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last."
— Matthew 20:16 NLT

Key Thought

Reversal!

When God settles all the accounts, then things are going to be valued by his standards and not the world's standards. The people whose hearts are yielded to him will be recognized as his children no matter their rank or riches by worldly standards. Those who recognize the grace they have received by being included in God's Kingdom will be given places of honor.

So our goal as disciples is to value things now as God does. Our job as disciples is to keep searching and including the lost, the last, and the least in the Kingdom and not just those who can bring us some benefit.

Remember, God doesn't look at us the way this world does. This world looks at the outward appearance, but God knows our hearts.

Today's Prayer

O Lord God, your grace to me is marvelous. Your promises are thrilling. I can't wait until you send Jesus with power and show things as they should be and reward people based on their character, their hearts, their gratitude for your grace, and their service. To you, be all praise and honor and power and glory, both now and forever. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

2 Related Resources by Heartlight

Think Differently
Article by Tom Norvell
Is your thinking stuck in a rut? Tom Norvell reflects on Apple founder Steve Job's retirement and reminds us to think differently.
Wonderfully Unsettling Grace
Article by James Nored & Phil Ware
God perched His grace on a tree of torture in the middle of humanity's worst abuses so that grace would be available to everyone... even you! James Nored and Phil Ware explore the wonderfully unsettling nature of God's grace and His desire to make it accessible to everyone.

Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 20:16 NLT — "So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Friday, September 19, 2025

Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'All My Thoughts' (Ps. 104:33-35)
"I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath! May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the..."
Daily Wisdom
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
Proverbs 12:13
"An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk, but a righteous man escapes trouble."
Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'The Holy Spirit Helps Our Prayers' (Ro. 8:26-27)
"And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with..."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Aroma'
"Dear Disciple, As Paul gets ready to talk about the new covenant of the Spirit in 2 Corinthians chapter 3, he pauses long enough to make an important..."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!