2 Cor.6:2
"HeLovesYou" <fprimeaunothere@ndak.net> wrote in message
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Scripture: Luke 16:19-31; Key Verse: 2 Cor 5:10
"We must all appear before the judgment seat
of Christ, that each one may receive the things
done in the body, according to what he has done,
whether good or bad."
"I've got plenty of time to make that decision," he reasoned. "Maybe
in
a few years I'll be ready to think about spiritual things. Right now I've
got to get going and try to get my life in order." You've heard reasoning
like this before. Maybe you were one of those who postponed thinking
about
the Lord until "some better time."
What many do not stop to consider is that they are not guaranteed a
tomorrow. That's the mistake the rich man made in Jesus' parable. Only
when it was too late and he was suffering the torment of Hades, did he
realize the importance of knowing Jesus as His Savior.
Notice what the rich man asked Abraham. He wanted Abraham to send
some
sort of special warning or messengers to his brothers who were still
living,
so that they would not meet his same dismal fate. Abraham replied, "They
have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them--If they do not listen to
Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises
from
the dead" (Luke 16:29-31).
God has already given His Word to mankind, and He says it is
sufficient.
The heart that is already hardened to that truth will not be receptive to
more. Now is the time to listen to what God says, not tomorrow or the day
after that. To put off the decision to hear Him and respond is to
continue
the process of hardening your heart.
Dear God, give me a tender heart and a listening
ear.
Seeking His Face Devotional
Dr. Sranley
Luke 16:19 Jesus said, "There was a certain rich man who was splendidly
clothed and who lived each day in luxury. 20 At his door lay a diseased
beggar named Lazarus. 21 As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the
rich man's table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores. 22 Finally,
the beggar died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich
man also died and was buried, 23 and his soul went to the place of the
dead.
There, in torment, he saw Lazarus in the far distance with Abraham. 24
"The
rich man shouted, 'Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here
to
dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in
anguish in these flames.' 25 "But Abraham said to him, 'Son, remember that
during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had
nothing.
So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides,
there is a great chasm separating us. Anyone who wanted to cross over to
you
from here is stopped at its edge, and no one there can cross over to us.'
27
"Then the rich man said, 'Please, Father Abraham, send him to my father's
home. 28 For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them about this
place of torment so they won't have to come here when they die.' 29 "But
Abraham said, 'Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can
read their writings anytime they want to.' 30 "The rich man replied, 'No,
Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they
will
turn from their sins.' 31 "But Abraham said, 'If they won't listen to
Moses
and the prophets, they won't listen even if someone rises from the dead.'"
NLT
--
"The very fact that you are capable of continuing to
learn and develop tells you that you will never
be fully competent at anything. Each of us will
always have plenty of room for growth, and
that's part of God's design for us."
Dr. Charles Stanley
.
