Episodios
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26 Andas it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son ofMan: 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage,until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed themall. 28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, theybought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the day that Lot wentout of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
InLuke 17, Jesus, on His way to Jerusalem, has been especially teaching Hisdisciples about forgiveness (vv. 1-6), faithfulness (vv. 7-10), and thankfulness(vv. 11-19). In verse 20, the Pharisees brought up the subject of the coming ofthe âKingdom of Godâ, referring to the time when the Messiah would set up Hiskingdom on earth. Jesus reminded them to quit looking for a physical, political,and material kingdom and to look for a spiritual one (v. 21).
Thenin Luke 17:22-30, Jesus turns and speaks to His disciples about His return, theday of the Son of Man. Today, this passage challenges us to live withreadiness, not distracted by the worldâs noise or lulled into complacency.Jesus uses vivid Old Testament examples to show how sudden and certain Hiscoming will be, urging us to stay faithful and alert.
Jesus warnsHis disciples that a time will come when theyâll long for His presence, but itwonât be as they expect. False voices will cry out, âHeâs here! Heâs there!âbut Jesus says not to chase them. His return will be unmistakable, likelightning flashing across the sky. It will be sudden, visible to all, andimpossible to miss (Read Revelation 1:7; and 19:11-16). Yet, before that day,He must suffer and be rejected, a reminder that the path to glory goes throughthe cross (v. 25).
Todrive home the urgency, Jesus points to two Old Testament events: the days ofNoah and the days of Lot. In both, people were consumed with everydaylifeâeating, drinking, marrying, buying, selling, building. Thereâs nothingwrong with these activities, but the problem was their focus. They were sowrapped up in the ordinary that they ignored the warnings of coming judgment. BothNoah and Lot lived in days of religious compromise and moral declension, notunlike our present time. During "the days of Noah," population growthwas significant (Gen. 6:1), lawlessness was on the increase (Gen. 6:5), and theearth was given over to violence (Gen. 6:11, 13). In Lot's day, the unnaturallusts of Sodom and Gomorrah were so abhorrent to God that He completelydestroyed the cities. Only Lot, two of his daughters, and his wife (who laterwas destroyed) were saved from the terrible judgment.
Jesussays it will be the same when He returns. The world will be caught off guard,living as if life will go on forever. But for those who follow Him, the call isclear: stay awake, stay faithful, and donât get lulled into spiritual sleep.This isnât about obsessing over dates or signs but about living each day withpurpose, doing Godâs work, and keeping our hearts fixed on Him. The suddennessof His coming isnât meant to scare us but to spur us to live differently. To beready, expectant, and aligned with His kingdom.
So,hereâs the challenge for us this week: Live ready. Take a moment each morningto ask yourself, âIf Jesus returned today, would I be found displaying thereality of Jesus Christ in my life. Living a life of forgiveness, faithfulness,and thankfulness because of my faith and love for the Lord?â Today, identify one area where youâre temptedto drift into complacencyâmaybe itâs neglecting prayer, chasing distractions,or ignoring a call to serve. Commit to one intentional action to counter thatdrift.
Maythe Lord help us to be prepared for His coming living with eternity in view andnot be caught off guard like the world was in Noahâs or Lotâs day. Will you be readywhen He comes?
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Today,It is my prayer today that our Heavenly Father will open our hearts to His Wordand help us understand the true nature of His kingdom and how it transforms usfrom within. And that He would guide us by His Spirit to live as citizens of Hiskingdom.
ThePharisees were looking for a kingdom they could see. Along with most of theJewish people thew were looking for a grand, political empire that wouldelevate their nation and crush their enemies. They wanted a Messiah who wouldarrive with pomp, power, and a clear timeline. When John the Baptist showed upwith his message, some thought he might be the Messiah (John 1:19-27). But thenthe attention of the nation turned to Jesus, especially after John wasbeheaded.
Jesusâresponse to their question about the kingdom turned their expectations upsidedown. The kingdom of God, He said, doesnât come with âobservationâ, which meantit wasnât going to come with fanfare or visible signs you can point to and say,âThere it is!â God's plan for a visible, millennial kingdom was dependent uponthe Jews' accepting the spiritual truths of the kingdom as preached by John andJesus (John 3:1-12). The mystery parables of Matthew 13 reveal that the plan toestablish an earthly kingdom was postponed because of the Jews' attitude towardthe King. Instead, Jesus answer is that His kingdom is already present, workingin a way they couldnât imagine: within peopleâs hearts.
Jesusâwords should challenge us to rethink what Godâs kingdom is. Itâs not aboutexternal power, wealth, or status. Itâs not confined to a specific place or adramatic event. The kingdom of God is spiritual, transforming us from theinside out. It begins when we surrender to Jesus as King, allowing Hislove, grace, and truth to reign in our hearts. This kingdom changes how wethink, act, and love others. It makes us humble where we were proud, generouswhere we were selfish, and hopeful where we were discouraged.
WhenJesus told the Pharisees, âThe kingdom of God is within you,â He wasnât sayingthey already had itâthey rejected Him! Instead, He was pointing to Himself, theKing standing in their midst, and urging them to recognize the kingdomâspresence through a changed heart. For us, this means the kingdom is alreadyhere, accessible through faith in Christ. Itâs in the quiet moments when wechoose forgiveness over bitterness, service over selfishness, or trust in Godover worry. Itâs in the way we reflect Jesus to the world.
Jesustaught us to pray, âThy Kingdom comeâŠ.â. In Matthew chapters 5-7, Jesus gave usthe âprinciples of the kingdomâ. Only by the new spiritual birth (John 3:3-7),can we see or enter this kingdom. And then only by His Holy Spirit living withinus can we experience the reality of living by the principles of His kingdom.
Today,this truth should challenges us. Like the Pharisees, we can get caught uplooking for Godâs kingdom in the wrong places, expecting it in materialsuccess, public recognition, or a perfect life. Jesus calls us to look inward.Is His kingdom ruling in our hearts? Are we living as His ambassadors, showingHis love and truth in our everyday actions?
Maythe Lord help us to focus on cultivating Godâs kingdom within. Before I get outof bed each day, I pray the Lordâs Prayer to remind myself that I want to experienceHis Lordship in every aspect of my life. Today, would you take five minutes topray and ask God to reveal one area of your heart where He wants to reign morefully, maybe itâs an attitude, a habit, or a relationship. Then, take onepractical step to align that area with His kingdom values.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank Youfor being our King and bringing Your kingdom near. Help us to seek Your kingdomwithin our hearts, not in the things of this world (Matthew 6:33). Transform usby Your Spirit to live as Your people, reflecting Your love and truth. Guide usin this weekâs challenge to let You reign in every part of our lives. Amen.
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InLuke chapter 17, Jesus, on His way to Jerusalem, is teaching His disciples somepowerful lessons theyâll need to learn and practice if they are going to befollowers of Jesus, making a difference in the world and turning it upside downfor the kingdom of God. He teaches about forgivenessâyouâre going to beoffended, sometimes by those closest to you, and you have to forgive. Then,youâll need faith to do that, which means being obedient.
Youârealso going to practice faithfulness in such a way that, no matter how hard youwork, how much you serve, or how tired you are, you simply do the task at handbecause God has commanded you to do itânot out of duty, but out of love andcompassion for Him. You depend on His Holy Spirit to fill you to accomplishthat purpose as a servant of the living God. We are called to the privilege ofserving the Lord; itâs not a right, but a privilege, a calling from God forevery believer. From there, we learn thankfulness, and thatâs what this lessonis about.
Nowin Luke 17:11-19, âIt happened as Jesus went to Jerusalem, passing throughthe midst of Samaria and Galilee. As He entered a certain village, He met tenmen who were lepers, who stood afar off. They lifted up their voices and said,âJesus, Master, have mercy on us.â When He saw them, He said, âGo, showyourselves to the priests.â As they went, they were cleansed. One of them, whenhe saw that he was healed, returned and, with a loud voice, glorified God. Hefell down on his face at Jesusâ feet, giving Him thanksâand he was a Samaritan.Jesus answered and said, âWere not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Werethere not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?âThen Jesus said to the Samaritan, âArise, go your way; your faith has made youwell.â
Jesusis talking about how, when God does wonderful things for us, we experience Hisgoodness, grace, and mercy. As we are being obedient and faithful, we should bethankful. Gratefulness is an attitude of the heart that reflects our humilityand the grace of God in our lives, recognizing that every good gift, everyperfect gift, and every opportunity we have to serveâevery divine appointmentweâre part ofâcomes from the Lord Himself. We have that wonderful privilege,and we should return to give Him thanks.
Whatwe had here were ten men who were lepers, a picture of sin. These men werelost, helpless, and hopeless. They hear the Master comingâone of them aSamaritanâin the midst of Galilee and Samaria, as Jesus is on His way toJerusalem. They call out, âMaster, Teacher,â the same word Peter used,recognizing that He has command over everything. He can command demons toleave; He can command sickness to leave.
Sothey called out in faith, believing He can do something, and Jesus says, âGo,show yourselves to the priests.â They werenât healed when He spoke the word,but as they turned to go, they were immediately healed. Can you imagine that?They turned to go, and all of a sudden, that leprosy was gone. The nine of themran to fulfill the law, but the one who was a Samaritan ran to the One who wasthe fulfillment of the lawâJesus Christ. He fell down and worshiped Him. Thenine went to worship in a temple; this man made an altar at the feet of Jesus.He fell at His feet and worshiped Him.
Jesussaid to him, âArise, go your way; your faith has saved you.â Those nine men gothealed physically; this man got healed spiritually as well when he found thegrace of God through a thankful, humble heart. âFor by grace are you savedthrough faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works,lest any man should boast.â
Myfriend, be grateful, be thankful, and live a life of gratitude to a holy God,because when weâre not thankful, we become vain in our imaginations, and ourfoolish hearts are darkened (Romans 1).
Beforgiving, be faithful, and be thankful.
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Lukechapter 17:1 begins with, "Then He said to His disciples."Jesus is teaching His disciples some powerful lessons, first about forgiveness,faith, and obedience in these opening verses. But now, in verses 7 through 10,He's teaching a lesson about faithfulness. My friend, when you live a life offorgiveness, faith, and obedience, doing what you're supposed to do as abeliever, you will be faithful despite what's going on around you, and you'llbe faithful for the right reasons with the right motives.
Thispassage of Scripture warns to beware of offenses, they're going to come. Thegreatest offenses that come to you and me don't come from the outside worldthat hates Jesus, hates us, and hates the gospel. No, the great and painfuloffenses come from those we go to the house of God with, those we worship with;another pastor, another believer, another co-worker. That offense happens andgoes deep into our hearts, sometimes from a family member whoâs abusive or sayssomething hurtful. Those are the offenses we have to deal with, and many times,they cause us to quit. We throw in the towel and say, "If that'sChristianity, I want none of it."
So,the Lord has a powerful lesson in verses 7-10.
Youknow, so often I find that many believers, because of their past sins andoffenses toward God, and the sense that when they realize Godâs forgiven them,they are grateful and thankful. But they do what I call religious compensationâtheytry to pay God back for His goodness. My friend, you can never pay God back,and to serve trying to pay God back is not the right motive to serve the Lord.The main motive to serve the Lord is because you love Him. "If you loveMe, you will keep My commandments." The main purpose and motive inserving the Lord is to glorify Him. When youâre doing everything, whatever youdo, you do it with all your might and to the glory of God. You donât do it toget a pat on the back.
Somany believers, so many Christians, serve to be recognized by somebody elseâbythe pastor, some leaders, or to work their way up in leadership and be somebodyimportant. My friend, those are the wrong motives in service. Jesus makes itreally clear because here is a servant whoâs serving, watching sheep, plowingin the fields. Jesus used those illustrations often because we are like sheep.Weâre shepherding sheep as pastors, ministers, and co-workers with the Lord.Weâre plowing fields, working in the fields, sowing in the fields, trying toreach the harvest fields for Christ. So He says, "Youâre working in thefields, and you come homeâdo you expect a pat on the back?" No, He says,"Sit down and make me a meal."
JesusHimself set the great example. He said, "I didnât come to be served; Icame to serve and to give My life a ransom." He set the example. He becameobedient to death, obedient to the death of the cross. He made Himself aservant; He humbled Himself. Humility is involved here because if weâre notcareful, as workers and co-laborers with God, with faith to cast mountains intothe sea, we might get proud, and Godâs going to have to bring us down somehow.
So,Jesus is making it very clear here: serve with the right motives, serve for theglory of God, serve because youâre simply being obedient. As youâre living alife of forgiveness, handling those offenses that come, and living a life offaith, you will be faithful despite whatâs going on around you for the glory ofGod.
Beencouraged today to be faithful. Itâs required in a steward that he be foundfaithful (1 Corinthians 4:2).
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Today,we're moving on to Luke chapter 17, verses 1-6. Jesus has just rebuked andwarned the Pharisees about a place called hell if they continue in theirreligious hypocrisy and offend young believers as they sneer and mock JesusChrist. Now Jesus turns to His disciples in verse 1 and says to them, "Itis impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom theycome." Basically, Heâs saying that when we live in this world and dealwith its issues and problems, a broken world with a broken humanity, offensesare going to come. We are going to commit them, and they will be committedagainst us.
Jesusis now speaking to the disciples, preparing them for the time when He will begone. They will, in a sense, replace Him as His witnesses on earth to spread Hiskingdom message to the world. As He nears the end of His three-and-a-half-yearministry, on His way to Jerusalem, He turns to these disciples and talks aboutforgiveness and faithâforgiveness and obedience. Jesus warns, "Woe tohim through whom they come." We donât want to be like the Phariseesand offend people.
Inverse 2, He adds, "It would be better for him if a millstone were hungabout his neck and he were thrown into the sea than that he should offend oneof these little ones." The "little ones" here refer to youngbelievers or even little children who need to be led in a proper and good way. Itis our responsibility to take the opportunity to teach them the truths aboutGod and His Word. We must careful to never offend them, lead them astray, usecurse words in front of them, tell them dirty jokes, or expose them to thingsthey shouldnât be exposed to. My friend, to do so would be a terrible thing. Amillstone is a heavy stone, and God says it would be better to face thatbecause youâll face judgment for it yourself one day. So donât offend others.
Inverse 3, Jesus says, "Take heed to yourselves." Watch out forone another, be careful as you live among others, and take heed to be kind,gracious, loving, and, most importantly, forgiving. "Take heed toyourselves. If a brother sins against you, rebuke him, and if he repents,forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day and seven times in aday returns to you and says, âI repent,â you shall forgive him." Theapostles responded to the Lord, "Increase our faith."
Now,I donât know about you, but I probably would have said, "Increase mylove." I would have a hard time loving someone who keeps offending meseven times in a day, maybe with the same offense, saying or doing the samething, and then having to say, "I forgive you" when he asks forforgiveness. Iâd say, "Increase my love for this person." But thedisciples say, "Increase our faith."
Why?Because faith is an act of obedience. Obedience is doing what the Lord tells usto do. Theyâre asking, "Help us to be obedient to follow you."Scripture says in 1 Corinthians 13 that love does not carry offenses; it doesnot remember wrongs, it sets them aside. So, Jesus tells us to forgive them,and we say, "Increase our faith."
TheLord responds, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, youâll say to thismulberry tree, âBe pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,â and itwould obey you." Oh, my friend, Jesus said, "You donât need awhole lot of faith to do this; you just need to act in obedience." Itâslike a little mustard seed, but it has life in it. When you are obedient,thereâs life in that, the Holy Spiritâs life is in it. Iâm telling you, Godgives you the grace to overcome the hurt, the pain, and the offense. Instead ofgetting bitter, guess what? You get bigger and better for the glory of Godbecause that little seed grows into more fruit for His glory.
Oh,God, help us to follow the Scriptures ourselves today. This is a message forHis disciplesâfor you and meâto be people who reflect the love, grace, andforgiveness of God to the world around us. May the Lord help us to do it today.
Godbless.
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Inverse 22, it says, "So it was that the beggar died and was carried bythe angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried." Twopeople, a beggar named Lazarus, and a rich man, both had to face death. Then,in verse 23, it says the rich man died and was buried, "and being intorments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarusin his bosom." Somehow, there in paradise, there in Hades, there inSheol, with this great gulf fixed between them, the rich man could literallysee the pleasures of heaven, and he's forever condemned in torment. So he criedand said, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that hemay dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormentedin this flame." But Abraham said, "Son, remember that in yourlifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; butnow he is comforted, and you are tormented. And besides all this, between usand you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from hereto you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us."
Wesee that hell is a place where you have all your faculties. He had eyes, âhelifted up his eyesâ. He had a tongue, "Please send him to dip hisfinger in water and cool my tongue; I'm tormented." He was tormented;he had physical feelings in hell. You hear people say, "Well, if I go tohell, all my friends will be there," thinking they'll have a New Year'sEve party for eternity. My friend, that is not the truth. There'll be noparties in hell. It's a place of screaming, crying, and torment for eternity.You don't want to go there, and you don't want your friends to go there.
Thenthe rich man cried in verse 27, saying, "I beg you therefore, father,that you would send Lazarus to my father's house. I have five brothers, that hemight testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment."Abraham said to him, "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hearthem." And he said, "No, Father Abraham, but if one goes to them fromthe dead, they will repent." But Abraham replied, "If they do nothear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rosefrom the dead." How interesting, because later there would be a mannamed Lazarus who rose from the dead in John 11, and they wanted to kill him.Instead of believing in Jesus and trusting Him, they still would not get saved.
Myfriend, I'm telling you, people don't need miracles to get saved and believe.They get saved by faith in the words of the Lord Jesus Christ while they'reliving, because the Holy Spirit, through the Word of God, the law and theprophets, convicts them that they need to repent and in faith turn to JesusChrist. This is a story that ought to cause us to shake us in our boots, shakeus to our knees, shake us to pray and cry out to God for mercy! And do all wecan to warn our friends, our family, our neighbors, that they do not want to goto this terrible place. Please warn them!
Abrahamsaid, "In your lifetime, you were comforted. You had good things."The problem for most people going to hell is that they're enjoying the goodthings of life; money and the things money buys. Remember, Jesus was speakingprimarily to the Pharisees in this passage, who loved money rather than God.Jesus was telling them, "If you keep down that path, this is where you'llend up." We have no evidence that they ever turned from their love ofmoney, materialism, the things of this world, the lust of the eyes, or the lustof the flesh.
Myfriend, today, please turn to Jesus Christ. Do all you can to keep others fromgoing there. Pray, love, give, and live a life that shows there is a difference,and that reflects the peace of God, that you have when you know Jesus Christ.For sure, all of us one day will have to face God and judgment.
Godbless.
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Today,we're looking at Luke16:22-26, and we're talking about the subject of hell.Unless the rapture takes place first, everyoneon planet Earth will die. We will all face judgment and the Bible teaches wewill either go to a place of eternal torment, a literal hell, or to wonderfulplace of paradise called heaven. Jesus spoke about a literal hell on manyoccasions.
Goddid not create hell for human beings. He created paradise, heaven for humanbeings. Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14). Buthell was created for the devil and his angel, as Matthew 25:41 explains, whereJesus speaks to those on the left, saying, "Depart from me, you cursed,into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels."
Thispassage in Luke 16, from the lips of Jesus refutes so-called "soulsleep," for both the rich man and Lazarus were conscious, one enjoyingcomfort and the other suffering torment. It is a solemn thing to ponder one'seternal destiny and realize the reality of divine punishment.
Itappears from reading the context of the whole Scripture that there is a place,somewhere in the heart of the earth today, called Sheol or Hades, and it's theplace of the departed dead. In this passage of Scripture, and what I believefrom reading all of Scripture, in the Old Testament, before the resurrection ofChrist, everyone went to this place called Sheol, which had two compartments,as Jesus points out here, with a gulf fixed between them so you couldn't passfrom one to the other. One part was a place we call hell, a place of fire andtorment. The rich man died, and in this place of torment, he lifted up hiseyes, and he was in torment. Four times in this passage, the word"torment" is used. It's a place of flame, a place of pain, a place oftorment, and a place where you still have your feelings.
Inthe Old Testament, everyone who died either died in faith, looking forward tothe death of Christ on the cross through the sacrifices, or they died and wentto the hell side. This was up to the cross and the resurrection of Christ. Webelieve that when Jesus died and was buried, during that time, He emptied theparadise side, bringing those souls to the third heaven. Paul talked abouthaving an experience where he was caught up to the third heaven (2 Corinthians12:2). He says in the epistles, "To be absent from the body is to bepresent with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8). Remember Stephen, when hewas being stoned to death, saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts7:55-56). Remember Jesus said, "You will be with me" (John 14:3).
Iam convinced today that when believers die, they go to the third heaven (2Corinthians 12:2). Because, âto be absent from the body is to be presentwith the Lordâ (2 Corinthians 5:8). When lost people die, they still go to thisplace called Hades, the place called hell, where there is torment. I'mconvinced that, according to Scripture, one day hell will give up the dead thatare in it. There will be the Great White Throne Judgment at the end of themillennium, and the devil, his angels, and everyone who rejects Jesus Christ asSavior, will end up in what is called âthe lake of fireâ (Revelation 20:11-15).That's where the false prophet and the beast were cast just before themillennial reign of Christ (Revelation 19:20).
Myfriend, God didn't create hell for you and me. He created heaven for us.Eternity is in our hearts, and today we can, by faith, receive Jesus Christ andnever have to fear going to this place of torment because we have a placeprepared for us in heaven by the Lord Himself. We must make a choice. Goddoesn't send people to hell. They send themselves to hell when they rejectJesus Christ. God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11).
Jesusloves us and died for us and Scripture tells us, "Today is the day ofsalvation; behold, now is the accepted time (2 Corinthians 6:1-2). Please trustHim today to be your Savior!
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Today,we're looking at Luke 16:19-31. The subject of this passage is hell. I'll neverforget my very first message to preach in 1973 as a student at LibertyUniversity, then called Lynchburg Baptist College. It was in the back diningroom of the Echo Village restaurant in Winchester, Virginia, and the title ofmy message was "Hell Is No Joke." As I said yesterday, God used thispassage to alert me to the reality of eternity in hell if I did not receiveJesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.
Asa child, I had been encouraged to memorize Mark 8:36-38: "For whatshall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Orwhat shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" That verse, alongwith this passage of Scripture on hell, reminded me as a 19-year-old teenagerthat I would face eternity in hell if I did not repent of my sins and trustChrist as my Savior. I had to make a choice, and I came to the reality that Idid not want to spend an eternity in hell for a few years, (10, 15, 20, or even50 years) of pleasure on earth. It would not be worth it. The Holy Spiritconvicted me of my sin, woke me up, and I trusted Jesus to come into my hearton February 21, 1971. My life has never been the same, and I'm thankful forthis passage.
Somepeople don't like to talk about hell, but it's a reality. Some don't like totalk about death, but it's a reality. In this passage of Scripture, there aretwo men: a rich man and a poor man. One was very, very richâwe don't know hisname; he's anonymous, but he was a real man. Jesus said, "A certainman." Then there was a very poor man, a beggar named Lazarus. Oh, he had anameâJesus named him because Jesus knows His sheep by name, and they followHim.
Thereality is, it doesn't matter whether you're rich or poor, educated oruneducated, famous or unknown. There is one equalizer for all of us: death. âIt'sappointed unto man once to die, and after this, the judgmentâ (Hebrews9:27). âOur lives are but a vapor; they appear for a little time and thenvanish awayâ (James 4:14). Proverbs 27:1 says, "Boast not yourselfof tomorrow, for you know not what a day may bring forth."
Thereality of death is always before us. Sometimes we dread or avoid funeralsbecause they remind us of that reality. It was at a funeral for his cousin,killed in Korea, that my dad woke up to the reality of facing eternity andhaving to die one day. That realization led him to a pastor to ask aboutsalvation, and he got saved. Our family's life changed forever, and my lifechanged when I met Jesus. My friend, I'm telling you, you do not want to go toa terrible place called hell.
We'lltalk more about the place of hell, but right now, we're emphasizing the factthat there was a certain beggar and a certain rich man, and they both died.They both died, but where they went was two different places. When they died,the beggar was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich man alsodied and was buried. Abraham's bosom, as we study Scripture, was a place calledSheol in the Old Testament, the place of all the departed dead. It had twocompartments: a paradise side and a Hades side. We see that from this passage.Jesus told the thief on the cross, "Today you will be with me inparadise."
We'llgo into more details about what we believe this place is, where it is, and howlong it will last tomorrow. But today, the reality is that there is a placecalled hell, and one day we will die. We'll either go to a place of paradise,which today is heaven, or we'll go to a place called hell, the place of eternaltorment. We must make a choiceâthat's the reality of it. What is your choicetoday? Have you trusted Christ? If not, why not? Today, why not make the LordJesus Christ your Savior, invite Him into your heart, and find true salvationas you repent of your sins?
Today,will you fix your eyes upon the cross of Jesus Christ and trust Him to be yourLord and Savior?
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Today, we're looking ata solemn passage of Scripture as we examine Luke 16:19-23. Jesus has justsilenced the sneering Pharisees, pointing out their covetousnessâtheir love ofmoney over their love of God. In fact, Luke 16:14 says, "Now thePharisees, who were lovers of money, heard these things and they derided him.â Theysneered at him. They mocked at him. Jesus talked about money and theconsequences of living a covetous life, pursuing the world, the flesh, thedevil, and money rather than living for God. Remember in this same passageJesus said, "You cannot serve God and mammon."
Over the years, I'veheard some preachers say, "You'll never hear me talk about money."They're scared that if they discuss money from the pulpit, people might thinkthey're money-hungry and run them off. My friend, they're not following the exampleof Jesus. Jesus spoke often about money, its use, and how we're to be goodstewards of the resources, money, and wealth that God has blessed us with.There's nothing wrong with talking about money from the pulpit, Jesus did. Ifyou want to follow His example, you may need to do the same. It's goodteaching; it helps people understand stewardship because money is where welive. We need money for everything we do in this life.
Money, as I've saidbefore, represents our life. We exchange our time, skills, and talents for apaycheck at the end of the week so we can buy food, shelter, andtransportation, and meet necessary needs. Money is a representation of ourlife, and how we spend our money shows how we spend our life. Itâs veryimportant and reveals whether we're covetous or not. If we fail to apply God'sprinciples in our lives and follow them in the use and stewardship of money,using it to make friends for eternity, as mentioned in this passage, we missthe mark.
The Pharisees didnâtlike what Jesus was saying, and Jesus is about to confront them powerfully,explaining the consequences of their covetousness if they do not repent andcome to the Lord. Notice that Jesus told a story in verse 19: "Therewas a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and faredsumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full ofsores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fellfrom the rich man's table. Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. So itwas that the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. Therich man also died and was buried, and being in torments in Hades, he lifted uphis eyes and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom."
You see a contrast inthis story. First, I want to point out that Jesus began this chapter by sayingin verse one, "There was a certain rich man who had a steward."Now in verse 19, He again uses the same wording, "There was a certainrich man." This one was clothed in purple and fine linen. Jesus istelling two very real stories about two very real men in both stories. In the first one, a rich man and a unfaithfulsteward, and in this one, a rich man and a beggar. Jesus is not making up aparable, as some try to claim, to dismiss this and avoid believing in a placecalled hell. My friend, we miss the holiness and righteousness of God if weignore the reality of hell.
Jesus talked aboutmoney, and He talked about an eternity in hell, a place of fire and torment foreternity. And if we reject God and His only way of salvation and choose to livefor temporal things rather than what is eternal, failing to believe in the LordJesus Christ and trust Him to be our Lord and Savior, it will be our eternaldestination.
This passage caught myattention as a 19-year-old teenager 54 years ago and led me to accept JesusChrist as my Lord and Savior. I believe God can use it in your life too. Itrust that today you will choose to live for Jesus and eternity.
God bless!
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As I was studying thispassage I couldnât help but recall a statement one of my Bible college professorsmade over 50 years ago at Lynchburg Baptist College (Now Liberty University).He said, âA manâs morality will dictate his theology.â The Pharisees of Jesusday had a head knowledge of the Old Testament Law better than anyone else. Theycould quote most of it from memory. But the truth is, they were not practicingit and to justify their love for money, and even their immorality, theylistened to the teachers that interpreted the law to fit their lifestyle andungodly living and attitudes.
That is why they hatedJesus! The religious and lost world still does the same thing today. They attackChristianity and especially true believers who follow Jesus with pure heartsand right motives. The lost world that loves their money and immoral livingcome up with their own theology and interpretations of the Scriptures tojustify their guilty consciences. Read the Book of Romans!
In this passage, Jesusconfronts the Pharisees, who were sneering at His teaching about money andstewardship. Their love for wealth blinded them to Godâs truth, and they mockedJesus, revealing the condition of their hearts. Jesusâ response cuts to the core.While the Pharisees sought to justify themselves before others, God saw theirtrue motives. What the world values about wealth, status, and outwardappearances, often stands in stark contrast to what God esteems. This is asobering reminder for us. Are we chasing what the world applauds, or are wepursuing what pleases God?
Jesus then shifts tothe Law and the Prophets, which pointed to the coming of Godâs kingdom. WithJohn the Baptist, a new era began, the King was here, the kingdom of God wasbeing preached, and people were eagerly pressing into it. This wasnât just forthe religious elite; it was for everyone, tax collectors, sinners, and ordinarypeople hungry for Godâs grace.
The Pharisees, however,stood on the sidelines, clinging to their self-righteousness and missing theinvitation to enter Godâs kingdom. Jesus affirms that the Law remainsunshakable, fulfilled in Him, and its moral standards endure for all time. EvenHis mention of divorce underscores Godâs unchanging call to holiness,challenging the lax attitudes of the day.
This passage challengesus to examine our hearts. Like the Pharisees, we can be tempted to prioritizewealth, approval, or comfort over Godâs kingdom. But Jesus calls us to pressinto His kingdom with urgency and commitment, aligning our lives with His eternaltruth. God sees beyond our outward actions to the motives of our hearts. Are weliving for His glory, or are we seeking to justify ourselves before others?
Our challenge today isto take time to reflect on what you value most. Ask yourself: Is there an areaof my life where Iâm chasing the worldâs approval instead of Godâs? Spend a fewminutes each day in prayer, asking God to reveal any hidden motives ormisplaced priorities. Then, take one practical step to âpress intoâ His kingdom,whether itâs serving someone in need, giving generously, or standing firm in abiblical conviction, even if itâs unpopular. Letâs remember that God knowsour hearts and commit to living for what God esteems, not what the worldexalts.
Prayer: Lord Jesus,thank You for Your truth that challenges and transforms us. Forgive us for thetimes weâve valued what the world esteems over Your kingdom. Help us to pressinto Your kingdom with wholehearted devotion, living for Your glory alone.Guide us this week to align our hearts with Yours. In Your name, Amen.
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9 AndI say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, thatwhen you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home. 10 He who isfaithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust inwhat is least is unjust also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not beenfaithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the trueriches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who willgive you what is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters; for either hewill hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one anddespise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
In Luke 16:1-3, Jesus tellsthe parable of the unjust steward, a man who, facing the loss of his job,cleverly secures his future by reducing the debts of his masterâs debtors.Jesus uses this story to teach about stewardship, faithfulness, and ourrelationship with wealth. This parable challenges us to consider how we use theresources God has given usâour time, talents, and money.
The steward, thoughdishonest, was commended for his shrewdness, not his ethics. Jesus points outthat worldly people often act with more urgency and ingenuity in securing theirfuture than Godâs people do in pursuing eternal priorities. As âsons of light,âweâre called to live with eternity in view, using temporary resources to makean eternal impact. In this parable Jesus offers three key lessons.
First, use wealthwisely for eternal purposes. Money, or âunrighteous mammon,â is not evil initself, but itâs temporary and deceptive. Weâre urged to use it to âmakefriendsâ for eternity. We can do this by supporting ministries, giving tomissions, helping the needy, and spreading the Gospel. Imagine meeting someonein heaven who says, âIâm here because you gave to that mission.â Thatâs thekind of investment Jesus calls us to make.
Second, be faithful inlittle to receive much. Faithfulness in small things, like how we handle money,reflects our trustworthiness for greater spiritual responsibilities. If weârecareless with earthly wealth, how can God entrust us with âtrue richesâ likespiritual influence or heavenly rewards? Every dollar we spend is a chance toshow our prioritiesâwhether weâre serving God or chasing fleeting pleasures.
Third, we must choose ourmaster: God or money. Verse 13 is clear: we cannot serve both God and mammon.Money is a terrible master, demanding our loyalty and distracting us from Godâspurposes. But when God is our Master, money becomes our servant, a tool toadvance His kingdom. This calls for single-minded devotion, where everydecision aligns with Godâs will.
Today, I challenge youto evaluate your stewardship by considering these three steps:
âą Assess your spending.Look at your bank account or budget. Where is your money going? Does it reflecteternal priorities, like giving to Godâs work or helping others? Commit toredirecting one expense this week toward a kingdom purpose, maybe a donation toa ministry or a gift to someone in need.
âą Practice faithfulnessin small things. Choose one area of stewardship, your time, a talent, or asmall financial decision, and be intentional about honoring God with it. Forexample, set aside 10 minutes daily for prayer or use a skill to serve yourchurch.
âą Declare God as yourMaster. Write down or pray this affirmation: âGod, You are my Master, notmoney. I will use what Youâve given me to serve You.â Let this guide yourdecisions, especially when tempted to prioritize wealth over faith.
Prayer
Lord, thank You forentrusting us with Your resources. Forgive us for times weâve served moneyinstead of You. Help us to be shrewd for Your kingdom, faithful in the little,and wholly devoted to You. Empower us to live for eternity this week. In Jesusâname, Amen.
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In Luke 16, it appears that the main theme of thischapter is stewardship and our accountability over what the Lord has entrustedus with. The Wall Street Journal quoted an anonymous wit who defined money as"an article which may be used as a universal passport to everywhere exceptheaven, and as a universal provider for everything except happiness." Paulwrote in 1 Timothy 6:10, that the love of money is still "a root of allkinds of evil" which has helped fill our world with corruption andlust (1 Peter 1:4).
When you read ourLord's sermons and parables, you are struck with the fact that He had a greatdeal to say about the subjects of money along with heaven and hell. Teaching usthat one day we will give an account of what we did with the resources that Hetrusted us with. So, we had better heed what Jesus says in this chapter aboutthe right and wrong use of wealth. Neither of the two accounts in this chapteris called a parable either by Jesus or by Luke, so it is likely that our Lordwas describing actual happenings. However, whether they are actual events oronly parables, the spiritual values are the same.
In this first story,Jesus speaks to His disciples about a stewardâa manager of his masterâswealthâwhoâs accused of squandering resources. The master demands an accountand fires him. Facing a crisis, the steward panics, realizing heâs unfit formanual labor and too proud to beg. He then asks himself the question, âWhat shallI do?â A good question we should be asking as we are reminded that we arestewards of Godâs gifts, not owners.
In this first story, thestewardâs role was to manage his masterâs wealth for his masterâs benefit, buthe wasted it through carelessness or dishonesty. His failure led to a reckoning,where he had to account for his actions and he got fired. Jesus uses this storyto remind us that everything we have; time, money, talents, and the gospel, allbelongs to God. Weâre entrusted to use these gifts wisely, not for selfish gainbut to honor Him and bless others.
The stewardâs crisismirrors our reality. One day, weâll all give an account to God for how weâvemanaged His blessings. Like the steward, we might be tempted to waste what Godgives us, like the prodigal son in the previous chapter, spending timecarelessly, hoarding resources, or neglecting our gifts. Yet, the story alsosparks hope: even in his failure, the steward begins to think strategicallyabout his future. Jesus isnât praising his dishonesty but pointing out hisurgency to act wisely in a crisis. We, too, must act with purpose, knowing ourtime as stewards is limited.
God calls us to investour lives, not just spend or waste them. This means using our money to help theneedy, our time to serve others, and our abilities to share the gospel. Unlikethe worldâs shrewdness, which seeks temporary gain, our stewardship aims foreternal impact. Are we living as faithful stewards, or are we squandering Godâsgifts? The stewardâs question, âWhat shall I do?â is ours to answer today. Maythe Lord help us to choose to manage Godâs resources with gratitude, diligence,and love, preparing for the day we stand before Him.
Today, I want to challengeeach of us to invest wisely by reflecting on one area of our life; time, money,or talents, where we might have been wasting or hoarding Godâs gifts. Inprayer, we should ask God to show us how to invest that gift for His kingdom.Then, we should take one practical step this week: Give generously to someonein need, dedicate time to serve in our church or community, or use a talent toencourage others or share the gospel. By acting faithfully now, we will preparefor a future of eternal reward and bring glory to God.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for entrusting us with Your gifts. Forgiveus for wasting whatâs Yours. Help us invest our time, resources, and talentsfor Your glory and othersâ good. Guide our actions this week to honor You. InJesusâ name, Amen.
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Today, weâre finishing Luke chapter 15. In this chapter, Jesus tellsthree parables in response to the Pharisees who criticized Him for being afriend to tax collectors and sinners. The theme running through all threeparables is lost, found, and rejoicing. Keep that in mind.
At this point in theparable, the scribes and Pharisees felt confident that they had escaped ourLord's judgment, for He had centered His attention on the publicans andsinners, pictured by the prodigal son. But Jesus continued the story andintroduced the elder brother, who is a clear illustration of the scribes andPharisees. The publicans and sinners were guilty of the obvious sins of theflesh, but the Pharisees and scribes were guilty of sins of the spirit (2 Cor.7:1). Their outward actions may have been blameless, but their inward attitudeswere abominable (see Matt. 23:25-28).
We must admit that theelder brother had some virtues that are commendable. He worked hard and alwaysobeyed his father. He never brought disgrace either to the home or to thevillage, and apparently he had enough friends so that he could have planned anenjoyable party (Luke 15:29). He seems like a good solid citizen and, comparedto his younger brother, almost a saint.
However, important asobedience and diligence are, they are not the only tests of character. Jesustaught that the two greatest commandments are to love God and to love others(Luke 10:25-28), but the elder brother broke both of these divine commandments.He did not love God (represented in the story by the father), and he did notlove his brother. The elder brother would not forgive his brother who wastedthe family inheritance and disgraced the family name. But neither would heforgive his father who had graciously forgiven the young man those very sins!
When you examine thesins of the elder brother, you can easily understand why he pictures thescribes and Pharisees. To begin with, he was self-righteous. He openlyannounced the sins of his brother, but he could not see his own sins (see Luke18:9-14). The Pharisees defined sin primarily in terms of outward actions, notinward attitudes. They completely missed the message of the Sermon on the Mountand its emphasis on inward attitudes and holiness of heart (Matt. 5-7).
My friend, the heart ofGod is for lost sinners to be found, and when they are, there is rejoicing.Jesus rejoices, heaven rejoices, angels rejoice, friends rejoice. But do youknow who wasnât rejoicing? The Pharisees. They were sanctimonious,self-righteous, proud, angry, bitter religious people. Their religion was builton good works, and they thought they were better than everyone else. Jesusnails them with this story.
Jesus uses the story ofthe older brother to drive this home. My friend, we need to be aware of this.Our churches are full of people who work, work, work, serve, serve, serve, butitâs often to be seen, to be commended, to get a pat on the back. Like thePharisees, they say, âIâm not like others. I tithe, I go to church, I do allthese good things.â But they miss the point. When the publican bowed his headand prayed, âIâm a lost sinner, have mercy on me, O God,â Jesus said he wenthome justified, not the proud Pharisee.
Today, we donât want tobe like the Phariseesâcritical, sanctimonious, self-righteous, proud, angry, orrefusing to rejoice when a sinner comes home to the Lord. This is a powerfulending to the chapter. Letâs not forget the lost elder brother, who missed itall because his heart wasnât right with God or his father.
I trust these threestories of lost, found, and rejoicing will resound in your soul. Keep an eyeout for those around you who need to be found, so you can bring them to Jesus.
God bless!
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When I was growing up, Ihad a father who was a very committed follower of Jesus, but was also verystrict, and honestly, I had a fear of him and his punishments. If I got caughtdoing something bad, I dreaded coming home and facing my dad. I knew that hewas going to meet me with a belt or paddle in his hand and that he would bevery angry at me for disgracing him. I got many whippings that I deserved. (Bythe way, my brother Mark got a whole lot more.) This picture of my fathergrowing up made it tremendously hard for me as a young believer, because foryears I pictured our Father God in the same way.
It was this parable ofthe prodigal son, that eventually gave me a better picture of Godâs heart andlove toward us as a believer who had willfully strayed away from fellowship withHim. The prodigal son had squandered his inheritance, lived recklessly, and hitrock bottom. Yet, when he finally decided to return home, his father didnâtwait for him to clean himself up or earn his way back. The father had been patientlylooking and waiting for him to come home, he saw him from a distance, ran tohim, and embraced him with love and forgiveness before the son could evenfinish his confession.
This is a stunningimage of Godâs grace. The fatherâs actions break all cultural norms, older menin that time didnât run, especially not to meet a disgraced son. But thisfather runs because his love is unstoppable. He doesnât just forgive; herestores. The robe, the ring, the sandals, and the feast arenât just gifts, theyâresymbols of the fatherâs full acceptance, sonship, and celebration. The son camehome expecting rejection or, at best, servitude. Instead, he was met with mercythat transformed him from âlostâ to âfound,â from âdeadâ to âalive.â
This is Godâs heart forevery one of us. No matter how far weâve strayed, no matter the weight of ourshame, God is watching, waiting, and ready to run to us the moment we turntoward Him. His grace doesnât demand perfection; it demands only our return. Andwhen we come, He doesnât just forgiveâHe restores us to our place as Hisbeloved children, clothing us in His righteousness and celebrating our return.
But this story alsochallenges us to reflect: Are we living in the fullness of the Fatherâsembrace? Or are we still carrying the weight of guilt, believing weâre unworthyof His love? And, just as importantly, are we extending this same grace toothers, welcoming them as the Father welcomes us?
Today, let this story sink deep into your heart. If you feel far from Godâmaybebecause of sin, doubt, or shameâknow that He is watching for you, ready to runto you with open arms. You donât need to earn His love; you only need to turntoward Him. Take a moment to confess anything thatâs keeping you distant andtrust that His grace is enough to restore you.And if youâve alreadyexperienced His forgiveness, ask yourself: How can I reflect the Fatherâs heartto others? Is there someone in your life who needs grace, forgiveness, or areminder that theyâre loved? God calls us to be His ambassadors, showing thesame compassion and celebration for others that He shows us.
Today, if you havestrayed from fellowship with the Father, come home to God. Spend time inprayer, confessing any areas where youâve wandered and receiving Hisforgiveness. Let go of any shame and embrace your identity as His belovedchild. Also, take the time to extend grace to someone else. Identify one personwho needs encouragement, forgiveness, or love. Reach out to them with a kindword, a gesture of reconciliation, or an invitation to experience Godâs lovethrough your actions.
Prayer: Father, thankYou for running to us with Your love and grace. Forgive us for the times weâvewandered, and help us to rest in Your embrace. Give us courage to return to Youfully and to share Your heart with others.
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Thestory of the prodigal son is probably one of the most read and liked stories inthe Bible. We can relate to it in some way! Either we have strayed ourselves,or someone in our family that is dear to our hearts has wandered far away fromGod. This parable, told by Jesus, is about a young man who demands hisinheritance, leaves his fatherâs house, and squanders everything in recklessliving. By verses 14-19, heâs hit rock bottomâbroke, alone, and feeding pigs, adegrading job for a Jewish man. Yet, in this low moment, something shifts. Heâcomes to himselfâ and resolves to return to his father, not as a son, butas a humble servant. This is a story of sinâs consequences, repentance, and thehope of restoration.
Theprodigalâs journey shows us the deceptive nature of sin. Interestingly, he lefthome, like many young people, thinking they are looking for themselves, but inthe process they in reality lose themselves. He thought leaving his fatherâshouse would bring freedom, wealth, and joy. Instead, it led to slavery,poverty, and despair. Sin promises much but delivers little. It lures us withthe illusion of control and happiness, only to leave us empty, like theprodigal longing for pig food. This passage reminds us that a life apart fromGod is a âfar countryââa place of spiritual famine where nothing trulysatisfies. The prodigalâs hunger wasnât just physical; it was a soul-deeplonging for meaning, love, and home.
Yet,this low point becomes a turning point. His suffering wakes him up. Heremembers his fatherâs goodness, and how even the hired servants have bread tospare. This contrast between his misery and his fatherâs generosity sparks achange. Itâs a powerful reminder that God often uses our struggles to draw usback to Him. The prodigalâs pain helped him see his father in a new light,stirring hope that maybe, just maybe, he could return.
Didyou notice the phrase âhe came to himselfâ. It suggests heâd beenliving as someone else, lost in sinâs madness. Repentance begins with thisawakeningâa moment of clarity where we see our true condition and Godâs betterway. The prodigal didnât just feel sorry; he acted. He resolved to arise, go tohis father, confess his sin, and humbly seek a place in the household. Truerepentance involves the mind, heart, and will: recognizing our sin, feelingsorrow for it, and choosing to turn back to God.
Thispassage challenges us to âarise and goâ and examine our ownlives. Are we in a âfar country,â chasing things that promise happiness butleave us empty? Maybe itâs a habit, a mindset, or a pursuit thatâs pulling usfrom God. Like the prodigal, we need to âcome to ourselves.â Whatâs onearea where youâve wandered? Whatâs keeping you from returning to the Fatherâshouse, where thereâs bread enough and to spare? Godâs grace is waiting, but itrequires us to humble ourselves, admit our sin, and arise and act.
Iâllnever forget the old invitational hymn we used to sing in our churches, âLord,Iâm Coming Homeâ. Iâve wandered far away from God, Now Iâm coming home; Thepaths of sin too long Iâve trod, Lord, Iâm coming home. Iâve wasted manyprecious years, Now Iâm coming home; I now repent with bitter tears, Lord, Iâmcoming home. Iâm tired of sin and straying, Lord, Now Iâm coming home; Iâlltrust Thy love, believe Thy word, Lord, Iâm coming home. Coming home, cominghome, Nevermore to roam, Open wide Thine arms of love, Lord, Iâm coming home.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thankYou for Your relentless love that calls us home, even when weâve wandered far.Open our eyes to see where weâve strayed and give us the courage to arise andreturn to You. Forgive us for chasing empty things, and fill us with Your graceand truth. Help us take one step toward You today, trusting in Your goodness.In Jesusâ name, Amen.
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InLuke 15, Jesus tells three parables about lost things. The first, the lostsheep, shows Jesus, the Good Shepherd, pursuing a foolish sinner far from God.The second, the lost coin, pictures a believer still in Godâs house but hiddenin the dirt, perhaps useless to Him through carelessness, sin, neglect, ordistraction. The woman, a picture of the Holy Spirit, lights a candle, cleansthe house and finds it. This third parable, the Prodigal Son, portrays a childof God out of fellowship with the Father, a backslider who, through love forthe world, willfully chooses separation, reckless living, and ends in misery,enslaved to sin.
Theparable of the Prodigal Son reveals both the heartbreak of a child strayingfrom God and the boundless love of our Heavenly Father. This story speaks tobelievers like you and me, who, like the prodigal, may slide back into theworld, losing fellowship with God through our deliberate choices. Letâs explorethree lessons from the younger sonâs journey:
First,the deliberate choice to stray in the younger sonâs demand for his inheritance(v. 12), was a bold rejection of his fatherâs authority and presence, as ifsaying, âIâd rather have your wealth than you.â This wasnât a careless mistakebut a willful choice to separate from his father, driven by a love for theworldâs pleasures. As believers, we can make similar choices, prioritizingworldly desires, such as materialism, status, or sinful pleasures, over ourrelationship with God. This backsliding begins in the heart, where we valueâthe far countryâ over the Fatherâs house. Scripture warns, âThe wages ofsin is deathâ (Romans 6:23). Choosing the world over God breaks ourfellowship with Him, setting us on a path away from His love and purpose.
Second,notice in verse 13 how this reckless path led to ruin. The son âwasted hispossessions with prodigal livingâ in the far country. His reckless lifestyle, squanderinghis inheritance on fleeting pleasures, led to spiritual and physical poverty.This mirrors the backslider who, having given their substance (time, talents,devotion) to the world, ends up enslaved to sin. The sonâs love for the worldpromised freedom but delivered bondage, leaving him isolated and desperate.Isaiah 55:2 asks, âWhy do you spend your money for what is not bread, andyour wages for what does not satisfy?â As believers, we risk wasting Godâsgifts when we chase what cannot fulfill us. The worldâs husks and its emptypromises leave our souls starving, far from the Fatherâs provision. (ReadGalatians 6:7-8). âSowing to the flesh reaps corruptionâ.
Byverses 14-16, the son experiences the misery of broken fellowship. A faminestrikes, his resources are gone, and heâs reduced to feeding pigs, longing toeat their food, with âno one giving him anything.â Having given hissubstance, he now gives himself, becoming a bondslave to a citizen of the farcountry. This is a picture of sinâs enslavement (v. 15). This is the misery ofa believer out of fellowship with God: spiritually lost, dissatisfied, and cutoff from the Fatherâs care. Yet, even in this despair, thereâs hope. The sonâsmisery prepares him to remember his fatherâs goodness, a reminder of Romans2:4: âGodâs kindness leads us to repentanceâ. Our Father waits torestore us when we turn back, ready to renew our fellowship with Him.
Thisparable should challenge us as believers to examine our fellowship with God.Are we, like the prodigal, drifting into the far country, choosing the worldâsallure over our Fatherâs presence? Have we made deliberate choices that lead toreckless living, wasting Godâs gifts and landing in spiritual misery? The goodnews is that our Fatherâs love never wavers. He longs to restore us, just asthe father welcomed his son home.
Godbless!
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Todaywe celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.. This morning, weâllreflect on seven incredible truths that reveal the depth of Godâs love andgrace toward usâtruths that change everything
TheAmazing Truth That God Loves Us â John 3:16 John 3:16 isnât just a verse; itâs the heartbeat of thegospel. God loves youâpersonally, deeply, eternally. Before we go further, letthat sink in. The Creator of the universe loves you. Thatâs the foundation ofHis amazing grace.
TheAmazing Truth That God Became Flesh â John 1:1, 14 âIn the beginning wasthe Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God⊠And the Word becameflesh and dwelt among us.â This is the miracle of the incarnation. The eternal Goddidnât stay distantâHe stepped into our world, taking on human flesh. Why? To bridge the gap between a holy God and a broken humanity. Godâs Amazing Grace came down to us in the person of Jesus Christ.
The Amazing Truth of Jesus Christ and His Virgin Birth â Isaiah 7:14; Matthew1:18-25 Thevirgin birth isnât just a detailâitâs a cornerstone of Godâs plan. Jesus wasnâtborn with a sinful nature like us; He was holy from the start. This set Himapart as the perfect Savior, born to be âGod with us.â Godâs Amazing Graceentered the world through a humble manger.
TheAmazing Truth of Jesus Christ and His Sinless Life â 2 Corinthians 5:21;Hebrews 4:15;
1 Peter 2:22
Jesuslived a life none of us couldâa sinless life. Hebrews says He was tempted inevery way, yet without sin. Peter declares He committed no sin, nor was deceitfound in His mouth. Jesusâ sinless life qualified Him to be oursubstitute. Thatâs amazing graceâHe lived the life we couldnât live.
TheAmazing Truth of Jesus Christ and His Vicarious Death â 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter3:18; Hebrews 10:10 On the cross, Jesustook our place. The word âvicariousâ means He died for usâthe innocent for theguilty. Every sin weâve committed, every failure, every shameâHe carried itall. The cross is the ultimate display of amazing grace: Jesus paid the price we owed, so we could be forgiven and free.
TheAmazing Truth of Jesus Christ and His Victorious Resurrection â Matthew 28:5-8 Eastermorning changed everything! The tomb is empty, death is defeated, and Jesus isalive! The resurrection proves that Jesusâ sacrifice was accepted, that sin anddeath have no power over Himâor us. Grace doesnât end at the cross; it bursts forth in victory at the empty tomb.
TheAmazing Truth of Godâs Holy Spirit â John 16:13-15; John 16:8-9
Godâs amazing gracedoesnât leave us to figure things out alone. The Spirit convicts us of our sin, showing usour need for a Savior (John 16:8). He reveals the truth about Jesus and guidesus into a life of faith. Without the Spiritâs work, weâd never see our need forgrace. Even today, the Spirit is drawing us closer to Godâsamazing truth.
ClosingThought: Thismorning many of us will observe the sun rising over the ocean or thehorizon. But hereâs a thought: the sun isnât really rising. It appears to be,but the truth is, the earth is turning toward it. In the same way, for us tosee the Son of GodâJesusârising in our lives, we need to turn. The Bible callsthis repentance: turning away from our sin and turning toward God and His grace.
This Easter morning, will you turn to Christ? Will you believe His amazing truth andreceive His amazing grace? Itâs not about being good enoughâitâs about trustingin what Jesus has already done. If youâve never surrendered to Him, or if youneed to recommit your life, now is the moment. Letâs pray together.
Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for Your amazing grace. Thank You for loving us, for sendingJesus to live, die, and rise again for us. Thank You for Your Spirit, who opensour eyes to Your truth. Right now, we turn to You. Forgive our sins, fill uswith Your grace, and help us live for You.
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Picturea woman in a dimly lit Palestinian home, realizing one of her ten silver coinsis missing. These coins were more than money, they formed a headband worn by abride, a symbol of her marriage, like a wedding ring. Losing one was a crisis.So, she lights a lamp, grabs a broom, and searches every corner, sweeping awaydust and peering into shadows. When she finally finds that glinting coin, herjoy overflows.
Inthe first parable of Luke 15, the shepherd seeking the lost sheep shows usJesus, the Good Shepherd, pursuing a foolish lost sinner far from God. Thissecond parable, the lost coin, offers another layer. The coin, still in thehouse but hidden in the dirt, can picture a believer who has lost theirusefulness to God, perhaps through sin, neglect, distraction, or carelessness.
Thewoman represents the Holy Spirit, who brings the light of Godâs Word to exposehidden sin, sweeps the heart clean through conviction, and restores thebeliever to fellowship with the Lord. Every person, sinner or saint, bearsGodâs image, like a coin stamped with a kingâs likeness. Even when sin marsthat image, God sees their worth and pursues them.
Jesussays heaven rejoices when one sinner repents, but this parable also hints atthe joy when a believer is restored. Angels celebrate when a lost soul comes toChrist or when a wayward Christian returns to Godâs purpose. This challenges usto see everyone, unbelievers and struggling believers alike, as precious toGod, worth seeking and restoring.
Thisparable reveals Godâs heart for both the lost sinner and the believer whoâsdrifted. If you feel far from God today, maybe as a believer whoâs lost yourspiritual fire, know that the Holy Spirit is searching for you, ready torestore you with the light of His Word. If youâre walking closely with God,youâre called to join this mission.
Peoplearound you, friends, coworkers, or even fellow Christians, may be like thatlost coin, in Godâs house but not shining for Him. You can help by sharing thetruth of Scripture, praying for their restoration, or encouraging them toreturn to fellowship. (Read Galatians 6:1-5).
Thisalso challenges our attitudes. The religious leaders grumbled when Jesuswelcomed sinners. Jesus was saying that God actually searches for lost sinners!No wonder the scribes and Pharisees were offended, for there was no place intheir legalistic theology for a God like that. They had forgotten that God hadsought out Adam and Eve when they had sinned and hidden from God (Gen. 3:8-9).In spite of their supposed knowledge of Scripture, the scribes and Phariseesforgot that God was like a father who pitied his wayward children (Ps.103:8-14).
Dowe ever judge those whoâve wandered, whether unbelievers or believers caught insin? God pursues both with equal love, and we must too. Letâs be vessels of theHoly Spirit, bringing light and hope to those who need it. James ended hisepistle with these words: âBrethren, if anyone among you wanders from thetruth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner fromthe error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sinsâ(James 5:19-20).
Challenge:
Bea light this week and identify one person who seems far from God, either anunbeliever or a believer whoâs drifted. Pray for them daily, asking the HolySpirit to shine His light and restore them. Look for one chance to showkindness, share a Scripture, or invite them to reconnect with God, maybethrough a conversation or a church invitation. Then, watch for God to work andbe ready to rejoice when He does.
Prayer:
Lord,thank You for pursuing us when weâre lost, whether as sinners or believerswhoâve wandered. Fill us with Your Spirit to shine Your Word and restore othersto You. Give us boldness this week to pray, love, and reach out. May we joinheavenâs joy over every restored soul. In Jesusâ name, Amen.
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Luke15 has become one of my favorite chapters in the Bible over the years. Thispassage paints a vivid picture of Godâs heart for the lost. The chapter beginswith tax collectors and sinners, people who are despised and rejected bysociety, are drawing near to Jesus, eager to hear His words. Thisscandalizes the Pharisees and scribes, who see themselves as righteous andabove such âsinners.â
Theirgrumbling reveals their lack of love for the lost, but Jesus responds with aparable that unfolds in three stories about a lost sheep, a lost silver coin,and a lost son, all which reveal Godâs love and heart for sinners. In these storieswe clearly can see the Trinity. Jesus, the Savior seeking the lost sheep in thewilderness, the Holy Spirit lighting the candle, cleaning the house, seekingthe lost silver coin, and God the Father patiently waiting for the lost son tocome back home to fellowship with Him!
Inthe first story, a shepherd with a hundred sheep notices one is missing. Thatone sheep matters so much that he leaves the ninety-nine in the wilderness tosearch for it. He doesnât give up until he finds it, and when he does, hedoesnât scold it or drive it back harshly. Instead, he gently lifts it onto hisshoulders, carries it home, and throws a celebration with his friends,shouting, âRejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!â Jesusexplains the punchline: heaven rejoices more over one sinner who repents thanover the ninety-nine who think they need no repentance.
Like the shepherd,God seeks out those who are lost, people whoâve wandered away, whether throughfoolishness, rebellion, or ignorance. No one is too far gone for His pursuit.Second, it reveals the value God places on every single person. The shepherddidnât say, âItâs just one sheep; I still have ninety-nine.â Each one isprecious, worth leaving the fold to rescue. Third, it highlights the joy ofsalvation. The shepherdâs celebration mirrors heavenâs joy when a sinner turnsto God. Angels rejoice, and God Himself delights in the return of His own.
Are we like the Pharisees, quickto judge or distance ourselves from those we deem âunworthyâ? Or do we reflectJesus, who draws near to the broken and outcast with compassion? The truth is,weâre all like that lost sheep at some point, foolishly straying, helpless, andin need of a Savior. (Read Isaiah 53:6). Jesus, the Good Shepherd, came to seekand save us (Luke 19:10), carrying us home on His shoulders. And now, He callsus to join Him in His mission to seek the lost.
Thereis a fourfold joy expressed when a lost sinner comes to the Savior. There iscertainly joy in the heart of the person who is found. Both Scripture (Acts3:8; 8:39) and our own personal experience verify the joy of salvation. Butthere is also the joy of the person who does the finding. Whenever you assistin leading a lost soul to faith in Christ, you experience a wonderful joywithin (Psalm 126:5-6). Others join with us in rejoicing as we share the goodnews of a new child of God in the family (v. 6), and there is also joy inheaven (Luke 15:7, 10).
Challenge
Thisweek, letâs live out the heart of the Good Shepherd. Pray for one person inyour life who seems far from God, maybe someone you might naturally overlook orjudge. Ask God to soften their heart and give you an opportunity to show themHis love. Reach out to that person witha small gesture of kindness, a conversation, a meal, or a note ofencouragement. Show them the same grace Jesus showed the tax collectors andsinners.
Letâscommit to being people who seek the lost, not because weâre perfect, butbecause weâve been found by the Shepherdâs love.
Prayer
LordJesus, thank You for seeking us when we were lost. Fill us with Your compassionfor those who are far from You. Give us courage to reach out, wisdom to shareYour love, and joy in seeing others come to You. May our lives reflect thecelebration of heaven. In Your name, Amen.
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WhenJesus left the Pharisee's house, great crowds followed Him, but He was notimpressed by the size of the crowd or their enthusiasm. In this passage, Jesusspeaks to a large crowd following Him, saying, âIf anyone comes to Me anddoes not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters,yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bearhis cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.â He uses parables aboutbuilding a tower and a king preparing for war to emphasize counting the cost offollowing Him, concluding that disciples must forsake all and be like salt thatretains its flavor.
Imaginea massive crowd buzzing with excitement, trailing Jesus as He walks away from aPhariseeâs house. Theyâre drawn to His miracles, His teachings, maybe evenhopes of a political revolution. But Jesus stops, turns, and delivers asobering message: discipleship isnât a casual fan club. Itâs a costly, all-incommitment.
First,Jesus demands supreme love. He says we must âhateâ our family and even our ownlives. This isnât about despising people but loving Jesus so fiercely thatevery other affection pales in comparison. Think of a parent who sacrificespersonal dreams to follow Godâs call or a believer who risks family ties tostand for Christ. Our love for Jesus must eclipse all else, making us willingto surrender even whatâs dearest. I love how Oswald Chambers puts it: âThe onlyright we have is the right to give up the right to ourselvesâ.
Second,Jesus calls us to bear our cross. This isnât just enduring lifeâsannoyancesâitâs a daily choice to embrace shame, suffering, and Godâs will,just as Jesus did on His way to Calvary. Itâs saying no to selfish ambitionsand yes to serving Christ, even when itâs unpopular or painful. Picture earlyChristians facing persecution or missionaries leaving comfort for danger.Thatâs the cross weâre called to carry.
Then,Jesus uses two parables to drive home the need to count the cost. A buildermust ensure he has enough to finish a tower, or heâll face mockery for ahalf-built ruin. A king must assess if his army can defeat a stronger foe, orheâll need to seek peace. These stories challenge us to consider: Are we readyto follow Jesus fully, knowing it may cost our reputation, possessions, or evenour lives? Half-hearted commitment wonât do. Jesus wants disciples whoâllfinish the race, not quit when the glamour fades.
Finally,Jesus compares disciples to salt. Salt preserves, purifies, and adds flavor,making people thirsty for God. But if salt loses its savor, itâs useless, fitonly to be thrown out. A disciple who compromises their faith becomesineffective, unable to impact the world for Christ. Weâre called to stayvibrant, devoted, and true, reflecting Jesus in our character and actions.
Discipleshipis serious business. Jesus doesnât coerce us, He invites us to choose Himdeliberately, knowing the cost. Heâs looking for quality, not quantity, fordisciples whoâll be stones in His church, soldiers in His battle, and salt inHis world. As He spoke these words, Jesus was heading toward His own cross. Heasks nothing of us that He hasnât already given.
Challenge
This week, reflect on what discipleship costs you personally. Ask yourself: Isthere somethingâfamily, comfort, ambitionâIâm holding back from Jesus? Take onepractical step to deepen your commitment. Maybe itâs prioritizing prayer overdistractions, serving someone despite inconvenience, or boldly sharing yourfaith. Count the cost, then choose to follow Jesus fully. Be salt that flavorsthe world around you.Prayer
Father, thank You for Jesusâ call to true discipleship. Give us courage to loveYou above all, bear our cross, and count the cost. Help us be salt thatglorifies You. In Jesusâ name, Amen. - Mostrar más
