Category: Daily Prayer

7 “Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’?
Luke 17:7

Jesus begins an explanation of responsibility and reward by asking what is expected of servants. In the society most of us are familiar with, servants are no longer a common occurrence, so we must hear this story with first century Middle Eastern ears in order to understand. This is a problem we sometimes face with scripture, being distracted by the situation and missing the lesson.

Jesus asks how a servant returning from the field would be treated. Would the master ask the servant to sit down and eat with the family? Not likely – servants were expected to complete all tasks the master required before caring for themselves. While this may seem unfair or even cruel from the standpoint of our understanding, it was the reality of life in that society, and Jesus is using their understanding of that to make a point.

Jesus is telling us that we must be ready and willing to do everything for God before we do anything for ourselves. We owe Him our very existence and are called to show our gratitude through obedience. In contrast to the story of the servant serving a human master for the master’s good and comfort, when we serve God it is for our good, and the good of our brothers and sisters.

Gracious God, we are thankful that You call us to be a part of Your work in creation. Help us to be thankful, humble and productive servants of Your kingdom. Amen.

6He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.
Luke 17:6

Jesus tells us that real faith is very powerful. He is indicating that for most of us, it is not more faith but substantial, true faith that is needed. He teaches that faith “as small as a mustard seed” can accomplish amazing things.

Many struggle with their faith, wanting to believe more fully, but held back by the constraints of society and the many competing priorities we face. Like His followers, we may ask for more faith. Jesus answers today as He did then – a little authentic faith will go a long way.

Perhaps what we are asking is “Lord, deepen our faith”, and again Jesus will tell us that it is up to us to strengthen our relationship with God. Since the very beginning, God has been waiting with open arms to welcome us and to prove that our faith in Him is never misplaced.

Loving Lord, we ask You to do things for which we are responsible. Help us to see our obligation and accept the relationship You offer us in faith. Amen.

5The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you. 7“Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”
Luke 17:5-10

The disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith, and as we will learn this week, that is up to us. We are created in God’s image, with free will to choose for ourselves. This is the beauty of our relationship with Him.

Rather than being forced to worship the Lord, we are called to do so, chosen to be part of His family…if we so choose. God didn’t want us to worship Him without thinking, without the ability to say yes or no. He created us to be in relationship with Him, but not as robots or beasts who are forced to obey.

Our loving God wants us to choose Him and His plan for us because we want to be connected and to be part of His work. While as our Creator God could make us do His will, He chose to give us a choice, that our faith in Him might be truly ours.

Gracious God, while we don’t always make good choices, we are grateful for the ability to learn from them and to see Your blessings as a free gift. Help us to share our faith and through sharing, increase our connection to You. Amen.

The lesson from Luke 16:19-31 has much to say about how we use our wealth and the gifts God gives us. It’s not wrong to be wealthy, but God has expectations for those of us who are better off than others. We are called to be generous to others because God has been generous to us.

So what does it mean to be generous? Is it just giving a portion of our earnings to the church to “do good things”? That’s a part of it, but God has more for us to do. Are we aware of the issues and needs in our community and the world? We must be willing to get involved, not just write a check to avoid dealing with things personally. Jesus called us to go and do, to be an active part of the spread of God’s kingdom.

How can we be involved effectively? Pray about what God asks of you. Listen to what stirs your heart and go find ways to be useful in His work to help others. While our monetary gifts are important, our personal outreach and being willing to spend our time are also necessary. Jesus told us to “love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12), and this is one way to obey that command.

Gracious God, we have been blessed extravagantly by Your love. Help us to share that wonderful blessing with all Your children here through the giving of our time as well as our treasure. Amen.

Jesus teaches us through the parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) about being aware of the needs of others and caring for them. This lesson has much to say about how our actions here on earth determine our eternal situation. While we know we can’t work our way into Heaven by our own acts, neither can we ignore God and the way He calls us to live and expect a relationship later.

The story tells us that the rich man took no action to help the beggar at his front door. It is unlikely that he was unaware of him, he had to pass him every day, yet he apparently did nothing to help alleviate his suffering. God knows our gifts because He has provided them for us, and expects us to use them appropriately for His glory and the good of His children. When we selfishly withhold our help for others, God sees and is sad at our inaction.

We must listen for the call God places on our lives and obey, using the resources we have been given to share His love with all the world. God expects us to be good stewards of His blessings, using them wisely but without judging other’s situations. We are made to love God and one another individually and personally, and we must each reach out to our brothers and sisters as God reaches out to us.

Loving Lord, help us to see those in need right where we are. Make us bold to go to them, bringing the light of Your love and the Good News to all. Amen.

29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Luke 16:29-31

As humans, we are always looking for another reason it isn’t our fault, another opportunity after we fail. Abraham tells the rich man that he and his brothers should have listened to the teaching of Moses and the Prophets in order to avoid the separation he is suffering. The rich man tells Abraham no, they need another lesson, that “if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent” (verse 30).

The sad truth is that the one who rose from the dead is telling us this parable, and there are still those who do not listen to His teaching. Abraham tells the rich man – and us – that we must pay attention to all the lessons we have been given. God has sent many to share His love and truth, but it is up to each of us to accept this gift for ourselves.

Don’t be like the rich man in this story, waiting until it’s too late to be repentant. We must examine our lives, how we care for one another and share the Good News if we are to avoid the fate the rich man suffers in this parable. We must show the love He first gave us to everyone every day.

Loving Lord, we are slow to hear and understand Your lessons. Help us to listen and learn, and go to do as You have taught us. Amen.

27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ Luke 16:27-28

The rich man now thinks of his brothers, in what seems to be his only concern for someone else besides himself. He asks Abraham to send Lazarus to warn them that they might not suffer his fate. Unfortunately, the lesson is that after we die, our concern for others is expressed too late.

God has called us to care for each other while we are here. After we see the reality of eternity our chance for repentance has passed. Our time to turn our lives around is here and now, and to care for those God has given us. While the rich man’s concern for his family is at least a caring thought, we are charged with caring for all of God’s children, family or stranger.

The rich man’s failure was not in being rich, but failing to notice the need of those around him and using the gifts God had provided to care for them. He focused on himself and not a relationship with God and others. We must be aware of the issues that our brothers and sisters face, as we are responsible to God for their well-being.

Gracious God, we are sorry for the times we ignore each other when we should be helping. Make us strong in Your love to go to those in need and share the Good News and the gifts You have given us. Amen.

25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
Luke 16:25-26

This is the scary part of the lesson, and it should get our attention. Abraham tells the rich man “between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us”. Once our choice has been made, it is set!

This choice is our and ours alone. God gave us free will that we might decide for ourselves and not be forced to worship Him, but to choose Him of our own volition. The rich man chose to live in luxury without showing compassion for the beggar Lazarus who literally lived on his doorstep. Now he must abide by the consequences of that choice.

Wait, isn’t He the God of the Second Chance? Yes indeed – and our second chance is right now. We must make our choice for Him while we are alive and have the opportunity. Once we stand before Him, the choice is made. Choose to be His child, to represent Him and share His love.

Loving Lord, we know we are often ignorant of the needs of others and selfish in our desires. Help us to see all Your children as brothers and sisters, and share Your wonderful gifts with them. May we always choose Your ways over our own. Amen.

22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
Luke 16:22-24

As in many of His parables, Jesus warns that there will be a reckoning for our lives. We will be judged not by each other, but by God Himself, and we will be called to account for our treatment of each other. Lazarus the beggar is now comforted in Heaven while the rich man suffers.

This leads the rich man to ask Father Abraham to send Lazarus to help him, help he was apparently unwilling to give Lazarus when they lived side by side. He now knows what it is like to need help and not receive it. Jesus warned that “the last shall be first and the first shall be last” (Matthew 20:16).

We should help each other due to our love of God, not merely to avoid punishment, but Jesus says there will be judgement – Matthew 25:32-34 tells us He will separate us according to our obedience to His teaching and our care for each other. May we be obedient and caring as He was.

Heavenly Father, we often miss the opportunity to help those around us because we don’t pay attention. Help us to see the needs of others and use the gifts and resources we have been given for the good of all Your children. Amen.

19 There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Luke 16:19-31

I’m going to post the entire lectionary passage at the beginning of the week from now on so you can see how the lesson goes, but continue discussing only a few verses in the devotional each day. Let me know how this works for you by commenting here or on my FaceBook post or @pastordougolson (Twitter) or doug@pastordougolson.com (email).

Jesus begins a parable that sounds like another rich man – poor man story. In verses 19-21 He mentions the difference in their living conditions, and that Lazarus apparently lives just outside the rich man’s gate. This should give us a clue that the rich man can’t be unaware of Lazarus’s presence or his condition.

Jesus teaches us to be aware of what goes on right outside our gate as well, that we must pay attention to the needs of our brothers and sisters. Sometimes we are more interested in the issues in far off places than in what is happening just down the street. While we must not ignore world issues, we cannot neglect those closest to us.

We have all been gifted differently to care for each other. You have a unique, God-given skill that can benefit those around you. Think about the difference you can make right here, right now.

Loving Lord, we are called to be in ministry to those around us, using Your gifts for the good of all. Help us to see the needs that exist and how we can serve others in Your name. Amen.