When Jesus spoke the words of Luke 16.19-31, he shared the lives of two people. One was a rich man, and the other was a beggar. Each of them had a different life while on Earth and each found themselves in a different life after death.
The rich man, while had nice clothes and “feasted sumptuously” every day (Luke 16.19), had a troubling life after this Earth. After death, he found himself in torment. (Luke 16.23) In the great distance, he saw Lazarus, the beggar who laid at this gate, sitting with Abraham. (Luke 19.23)
While in pain, agony, and unbearable torment, the rich man petitioned Abraham to give him a drop of water. (Luke 16.25-26) Life’s memories filled his mind because he asks Abraham to send someone back to speak to his family. (Luke 16.27-30) Even the rich man begged for someone to evangelize (teach) his family while in torment. He did not want them to have the same fate.
William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, believed in the power of understanding Hell and torment. Mr. Booth is noted as saying, “Most Christians would like to send their recruits to Bible college for five years. I would like to send them to Hell for five minutes. That would do more than anything else to prepare them for a lifetime of compassionate ministry.” While we cannot do that, it is a reminder of the destination of our souls after this physical life is over.
Sometimes, it is necessary to realize what we are saved from to help us understand what we are saved for.
Prayer is a powerful aspect of a follower of Jesus because it is the communication avenue with the Father. The spiritual armor of a Christian includes prayer. (Ephesians 6.18) Paul, in describing the full armor of God, tells us to pray at all times.
While we know about prayer, and we even recognize the need for daily prayer, for what are we praying? As our words leave our minds to reach God’s ears, what are we asking God to do? Or what words are we saying?
Patrick Morley took time to consider what he was praying. In examination of his words, he compared his prayer with the Model Prayer of Matthew 6.9-13. As he concluded his examination, he said, “I realized most of my prayers were prayed in the key of me. So I started praying all my prayers in the key of we. It is amazing how our prayers take flight when they soar on wings that include them.” (The Christian Man, Patrick Morley, 2019, page 103)
If you were to examine your prayer life, would you pray in the key of “me” or the key of “we?” When you take a moment and examine the Model Prayer of Matthew 6, what do you see? A quick examination of the words of Mathew 6.9-13 show the words, “our,” “us,” and “we.”
Even the prayer of Jesus as He was about to face crucifixion found His words focused on others. The words recorded in John 17 show the purpose of Jesus as He seeks to glorify God through His life, then He prays for the people around Him.
While there is nothing wrong with asking God to be with us, or sharing our wants and needs with the Father, are we praying for others as well?
Just some thoughts,
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best-selling author, John Maxwell, tells of a small town in Maine that was a proposed site for a large hydro-electric plant. In building the hydro-electric plant, a dam would be built across the river and the town would eventually be submerged.
When the project was announced, they gave the citizens months to arrange for their future affairs; buying a new home, packing, moving, etc. However, during those months given to prepare, an interesting series of events took place.
During those preparation months, all improvements in the city stopped. They made no repairs to any buildings, roads, or sidewalks. They did no painting in the town. Every day, the town was looking more run down. Even though it was many months before the town would shut down, it was already looking abandoned.
Seeing the town, one citizen proclaimed, “Where there is no faith in the future, there is no power in the present.” Or, as Solomon would say, “Where there is no vision, the people perish...” (Proverbs 29.18; KJV)
As Christians, we know we will leave this world to move on to a greater hope. (Romans 15.13) We should look forward to our new life, lest we fall into a life of no hope. (1 Thessalonians 4.13-18). The future of Christians is bright as we look to the future (2 Timothy 4.8).
Are you looking forward to the future? Let us focus on the temporary, but let our minds be on the things above. (Colossians 3.2; 2 Corinthians 4.16-18)
Arriving in your inbox every Wednesday is our newsletter to give you spiritual motivation and education as you seek to create better days day for a better life tomorrow, based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. Each newsletter will contain thoughts to encourage you in your daily walk.
“The sun comes up; it’s a new day dawning; It’s time to sing Your song again. Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me; Let me be singing when the evening comes.”
Those words begin a song written by Matt Redman describing the reasons to give thanks to the Lord. We know that each day is a blessed day. (Psalm 118.24) We know, as Christians, God will take care of us throughout our lives. If He takes care of the birds of the air, He will take care of us. (Matthew 6.26)
How many reasons can you give for offering praise to God?
In an interview with Worship Leadership Magazine, Matt Redman said these words about the song, “10,000 Reasons”:
“The point behind the song is this, if you wake up one morning and you cannot think of a reason to bring God some kind of offering of thanks or praise, then you can be sure there’s something wrong at your end of the pipeline, and not His. We live beneath an unceasing flow of goodness, kindness, greatness, and holiness, and every day we’re given reason after reason why Jesus is so completely and utterly worthy of our highest and best devotion.”
As you reflect on your life, how many reasons can you give to praise the Lord?
The song, 10,000 Reasons, is based on the words of Psalm 103. In that psalm, David says, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103.2-5)
As we get into the New Year, many people want a new start and a better year. Some still make resolutions to change to start being the person they really want to be. Each resolution is a change. It is a change of action, a change or priority and a change or thinking.
However, studies have shown for years that most New Year’s Resolutions fade by the middle of February. The reasons are varied, but one of the most notable has always been the way one thinks. Even Solomon understood this in Proverbs 23.7, “As he thinks in his heart, so is he.”
Our minds control our actions, and even our outlook. Our mind is often called the “heart” in Scripture. The heart mentioned is the seat of emotions, the inward thoughts of our mind. Again, the wisdom of Solomon is found in Proverbs 4.23, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Solomon knew the purpose of guarding your heart, or your mind.
Jesus, speaking to the people, says, ““Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” (Matthew 15.10,11) And a few verses down, He clarifies it more, “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. (Matthew 15:18)
We know the words of Paul regarding the mind when he writes to the Colossians church in Colossians 3.2, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
How are you planning to change your mind? How are you planning to guard your mind this year?
To truly change, we must change our minds. When Peter said, “Repent” in Acts 2.38, the Greek word he used is “metanoeō.” It means to “think differently, “to “reconsider.” (Strongs) Digging deeper into the word, you will find that Peter wants them to change their hearts.
From the day I am writing this, there are 54 days left until the end of the year. Those 54 days break down into 1 month and 24 days, or 7 weeks and 5 days, or approximately 1296 hours. It seems unreal that 2022 has passed so quickly.
As 2023 approaches us, are you doing better in your spiritual life than you were at the beginning of 2022? Most individuals I know do not make any new year’s resolutions, but they do plan on having a better year. How are you doing to have a better year?
If you are not where you want to be, how will you change the next 54 days? There are many things you can do in the next 7 weeks to grow spiritually. Allow me to offer a few suggestions:
Fellowship with the saints – Fellowship means sharing. To share, we must be physically present. When we are present, we get to know one another. When we get to know one another, we support and encourage one another. The early church spent time each week in fellowship. (Acts 2.42; 1 John 1.3; Hebrews 10.24-25)
Spend time in the Word – Reading and studying will increase your spiritual knowledge and create a greater desire to continue pressing forward. As Paul is noted as saying, he counted everything loss for the knowledge of Jesus (Philippians 3.10). Grow closer to Jesus through the Word. (Acts 17.11; 2 Timothy 2.15)
Live what you believe – Tough decisions will occur, but God is able. With the knowledge we gain of God, Christ, and the Word of God, our actions will correspond with the knowledge we have gained. Consider the words of James, “… be doers of the word, and not hearers only…”
