Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional as we continue in our Luke, Exploring Who Jesus is series.
Today, from Luke 16:27-31, we reflect on how our faith is built on God’s Word rather than feelings or experiences.
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‘“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “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 16:27-31)
1. Remember the context
Firstly, again, it’s important to remember the context of this passage. Yes, this applies to us, but it was firstly directed at the religious leaders of Jesus’ day - The rich man who ends up in hell represents many of them! They assumed they were righteous and were right with God but they were mistaken. There lack of mercy revealed them to be ‘sons of the devil’ as Jesus calls them on one occasion! (See John 8:44)
Likewise, does our profession of faith in Christ also lead to a life of love? Are we truly born again and bearing the fruit of salvation in love and mercy?
2. This is a call for them to listen to their Bible
This story, directed at them, was a call for them to repent. Jesus is warning them that they have ‘Moses and the Prophets’ (The Old Testament that they claimed to love) that taught how to live in order to please God - which includes mercy. For example, Michah the prophet urges:
‘He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’ (Michael 6:8)
Likewise, if we are Christians, are we listening to God in His Word? This man wanted to warn his family to truly listen to God when it was too late. Today, do we heed Jesus’ Word to listen and obey Him?
3. They rejected their Messiah
Finally, in this parable, Jesus quotes Abraham as saying to this condemned man:
“If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”’
Here, again, Jesus is warning the Jews of His day. They were failing to listen to their Bible about mercy, but also failing to listen about the coming of their Messiah. They rejected Jesus, their Saviour. Jesus is warning them that if they won’t listen to the Word of God about how to live and about their Saviour, they won’t respond even when He rises from death - as turns out to be the case!
Likewise, our faith in Christ is based upon His Word. We don’t obey or believe because of miracles or special experiences (as good as these are). Today’s text, with all its interesting details is, in summary, a call to listen to God - believe the Bible - about how to live and how to be saved through Jesus.
Let’s pray together
“Lord Jesus, forgive me when I’ve not listened to your word but have allowed myself to be led by feelings and experiences. Today, I commit myself again to listening to you as to how to live and who you are. Amen.”
Community Group Notes
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week, and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
On Sunday our message from Luke 16:16-31 was entitled: ‘Entering the Kingdom means that we now obey the King’s Word’ - Becoming a Christian means that we enter God’s Kingdom which means, in turn, that we obey His words of things like marriage and mercy.
Please read Luke Luke 16:16-31 and discuss:
Did God speak to you about any from Sunday’s message that would encourage others?
To ‘forcefully’ enter the Kingdom is to be radically repented - to die to our old life and obey God’s Word! How will this be seen in our lives and do you have examples that you’d like to share?
8:17 - What does Jesus say about the Bible, and what practical examples does He give?
Our approach to marriage (16:18) and mercy (16:19-31) is to be shaped by God’s Word. We won’t discuss this now, but it’s vital to ask ourselves: ‘Am I honouring marriage as I should, and am I being merciful with the resources God has given to me?’ If you need support or advice about your marriage, please do talk to an elder in the church.
SIV - How will our obedience to God’s Word - in marriage and mercy for example - be a light to this world?
SIV - Do we have any stories of how we have ‘Served, Invested, and inVited’ recently?
SIV - Spend some time together talking and praying about who and how you are seeking to bring your community to Jesus.
Let’s pray together: Pray for one another out of our study together and for anything else for which people would like prayer.
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