Category: Devotions

What do Noah’s wife and the beggar named Lazarus from Jesus story about the rich man and the beggar have in common?  Before you strain too hard trying to read my mind let me tell you.  Both were saved by God, yet we don’t know that they ever did anything great in their lives.  We assume that Noah’s wife helped in some way with building the ark, but we don’t know what.  The only thing we know about Lazarus is that he lived for a time as a wretched beggar that people would ignore.  We don’t have any famous quotes from either of them during their life on earth.

Many times we feel that we haven’t done anything really big that would make God happy.  We feel our good deeds are too few and no one here on earth even notices them.  But remember what Jesus said in Luke 15:10 “I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”  Repentance may not seem like a big deal to us, after all people are sorry for many reasons.  But when we are sorry because we hurt God and we want to turn away from sin we create some heavenly excitement.  Jesus could have said “there is rejoicing when you finally kick the habit, when you do more than say you’re sorry but actually live totally for me” but he didn’t.  A change of heart is a big deal.  The little things do matter.  Often you can’t get to the big things in life unless you do the simple things.

It may not seem like much when someone disrespects you and you don’t strike back because you want to act in Christian love instead of anger.  No one is going to stand up and applaud you and most won’t even realize how much you’re holding back.  It may not seem like much when you offer a little bit of help to someone in need and they reject you because it isn’t what they want or they think it won’t help.  Other people may actually think you’re trying to take advantage of them somehow.

Yet God sees every little thing you do for his sake and knows every ounce of effort you give.  Here’s how David put it when telling Solomon to live his life for God.  “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought.  1 Chronicles 28:9. So don’t think God doesn’t see and appreciate every thought, every word or every action that you do because you believe in him and want to please him.

On a related note, there are times when we hear passages about rewards in heaven for serving Christ and we ask ourselves, “have I done anything worth a reward in heaven?”  If nothing comes to mind, then remember what Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 10:42. “if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward”.  A reward for simply handing someone a cup of water.  A reward for a small act of kindness because it comes from a heart that wants to love others as God has loved you.  A seemingly small attempt to put faith into action.  You will certainly be rewarded for even the simple things.

So, you may not go down in history as great as Abraham, David, Paul, etc.  But you don’t need to.  There are countless ways to love God and love your neighbor.  Appreciate the change of heart God has worked in you and the simple things you do for him.  He appreciates every single one and will help you move forward doing those simple, praiseworthy and rewarding things that you do.  And when you do them, you will be a blessing to others as well.

 

⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  1 Corinthians 13:6-7

People remember 1 Corinthians chapter 13 because it talks about love in a way that sounds noble, kind and positive.  But take another look at verse 7 as it talks about what love does.  Those are not words of warm feelings and smiles; those are words used when facing difficult moments in life.  These are words for people like you and me.

‘It protects’ because you or someone you love is under attack.  It might be physical abuse.  It might be the words of some bitter divisive person that wants to tear people down.  When you are in danger you want someone who loves you to rush in and shield you.

‘It trusts’ because when you look around the situation looks bad and you’re not sure things will work out.  An upcoming court date is an example.  You’re not sure if the lawyer will work on your behalf, not sure if a key witness will come forward.  You’re not sure what will happen if you tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.  You want to trust that honesty will have its reward or that someone will love you just enough to give you a hand.

‘It always hopes’.  Hope is for people who have nothing at the moment.  When you’ve got money, friends or good times you don’t look too far in the future.  But when you’re facing a difficult situation you need hope.  When someone you care about is facing trouble you have hope for them because you love them and you work to make that hope a reality.

‘It always perseveres’.  If your struggling, if you tried again but it wasn’t good enough, you have to decide whether to persevere and keep fighting.  You have to love the goal your fighting for and love the people in your life enough to keep going.

So this famous chapter of scripture that often gets recited at weddings when people are thinking about romantic love isn’t just about love and marriage.  Love is what we need to get through life, especially the hard times in life.  When things are bad don’t you need someone who loves you?  When things are bad for someone you love, don’t you try that much harder to help?

Human love tends to fall short.  But now put Christ into the picture and see what these words can do.  Christ always protects his people and in Christ you can always work to protect your loved ones because you know he’s got your back.  Jesus always keeps his promises and your trust in him is never misplaced.  You can even trust that when you do what’s right he will help things work out for the best.  Christ has given you a hope that is certain, an inheritance in heaven that never ends, and with him as your Savior your future is always in good hands.  And Christ persevered through the humiliation and suffering only God would have the strength to endure.  He gives you his Spirit to help you persevere and keep fighting every step of the way as you carry your burdens as well.

As you think about the trouble in your life remember the love of Christ for you.  His constant self-sacrificing love inspires you to love the people around you even when things look bad.  Remember that he wants you to love yourself and others as you face those troubles.  Love is what you need to face the hard times honestly and boldly and love points you to Jesus for help along the way.  Then, when troubles come, you can always protect, always trust, always hope and always persevere.

 

²⁴ Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. ²⁵ Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. However, they do it to receive a crown that will fade away, but we a crown that will never fade away. ²⁶ Therefore I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. ²⁷ Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

I hope that most of you here tonight can relate to Paul’s pictures of an athlete training and competing to win, even if you weren’t an athlete yourself.  The fact that you are here in bible study shows you already know something about working hard for a goal.

Paul’s first picture is a runner who is completely focused on the prize because he knows distractions will slow him down and obstacles might cause him to stumble.  You could be out there with the TV and the Honeybuns, you could choose to stay away so people will think you’re too cool for that bible stuff.  But you won’t let anything distract you.  You have your eyes on the prize and winning is what it’s all about.

Another picture Paul gives is an athlete with a plan, who does things for a reason.  An athlete knows how far he’s going to run, how much weight he’s going to lift and how he’s going to change his diet to improve his training before his day begins.  You know that getting into God’s word is a must and you set aside time for it.  You search for new insights and ways to apply it in your life, just as an athlete searches for a training regimen that will give better results.  You can see the benefit of doing more of this after you leave this place and don’t intend to just run aimlessly in the spiritual sense.

Finally, Paul notes that even the strongest of athletes needs to stay under control.  He has to work out repeatedly and get his body and mind used to the training because temptations to quit or slow down come along every day.  I pray that you will also discipline your body and mind in the days ahead by staying in the word and finding ways to put your faith into practice.  By exercising your faith regularly you gain control and you improve your ability to deal with temptations and adversity.  I also pray that if you need a good coach or trainer someday that you will find one who can help keep your life focused on the ultimate prize, eternal life in heaven.

 

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.

Luke 16: 19-22

Perhaps you’ve seen beggars asking for money or food, whether downtown Chicago or downtown Kenosha.  Perhaps you’ve been in their shoes.  But you’ve probably never seen anyone as low as Lazarus.  He had to be carried everywhere and didn’t get special treatment for being disabled – remember there were no handicap stalls in those days.  Perhaps his only ‘lucky break’ was finding someone who could drop him off at a rich man’s gate giving him an outside chance of being fed from day to day as rich people came by.  But it seems most days he wasn’t being fed and he spent his time longing for some scrap of food, something to ease his hunger.

He was a wreck physically in other ways.  His body was covered with sores which not only hurt but probably scared people away when they saw him.  He was pitiful and the part about the dogs coming and licking his sores reveals his wretched state.  This wasn’t like man’s best friend coming to ease his pain.  Dogs in those days were scavengers, licking his sores for their satisfaction, and Lazarus didn’t have the strength to keep them away.

Which is why verse 22 is so astonishing and so uplifting – “The angels carried him to Abraham’s side”.  This poor disgusting beggar got a heavenly escort.  Angels, those spirit creatures who stand near God and do his work, lifted his soul off this earth and carried it into heaven.  That’s better than having a presidential motorcade or the armed escort our leaders have.  That’s more honor and protection than any earthly ruler has ever dreamed or imagined.

And why was Lazarus getting such an honor?  From the bible we know people don’t get to heaven because they’ve done enough good things in life or that they suffered quietly during their miserable lives.  The angels dropped Lazarus off next to Abraham, whom the bible calls “the father of all who believe God’s promises”.  It was Abraham who trusted what God said, even when it meant having to move hundreds of miles, believe in the impossible and give up the only son he had.  No doubt when Lazarus was on earth he trusted God too.  Hopelessly sitting at the gate, waiting hungrily, despairing of his troubles, he still held on to the love of God who promised to forgive sinners.  Perhaps Lazarus, like many people in his day, felt that his disability and poverty were due to his sins and God’s anger with him.  Even with that, he knew that God was a forgiving god and always came to the rescue of his people when they turned their hearts to him.

What about you?  Have you been in low places in life?  Do you long not only for scraps of food but to be right with God?  Does the fact that Jesus paid for all your sins, so you don’t have to pay, make you feel good?  Then your escort is waiting.  Oh, it may not come tonight and it may not come for another 40 years or more.  But the angels are standing by and ones have already been appointed for you when the time comes.  And when you see Lazarus you can say, “When I was younger, I wanted to be just like you”.