Thought For Today

(Jesus continued)  “Take heed to yourselves; if your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him; and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

Luke 17:3, 4

Lord when You talked to Your disciples about forgiveness You sure didn’t leave any room for discussion about it.  You never left one loophole for when we didn’t have to forgive.  You told us to ALWAYS forgive.

Thank You Lord for giving us so many examples of how to forgive.

Thank You for forgiving those that were so cruel to You when You were dying on the cross.

Thank You that You are there to help us because forgiveness is often very hard…in fact at times it seems nearly impossible without Your help.

Thank You that we can know without a shadow of a doubt that forgiveness IS possible with Your help.

Thank You for Your forgiveness because I sure need that every day.

Thank You Lord.

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(Jesus continued)  And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come; but whoa to him by whom they come!  It is better for him to if a millstone were hung round his neck and he were cast into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.”  Luke 17:1, 2

Lord You had a lot to say to us when You walked this earth.  Certainly there is a stern warning here about protecting our children.  It shows me how much You valued and treasured the children.

Thank You Lord for all the instructions You gave us.

Thank You for showing us how to treat one another.

Thank You for the joy of children.

Thank You for their innocence.

Thank You for the joy they bring into our lives.

What a gift to just sit and observe them and thank You for their lives.

Thank You Lord.

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(Jesus continued)  “He (rich man) said, ‘No father Abraham; but if some one goes to them (5 brothers) from the dead, they will repent.’  He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.'”  Luke 16:30, 31

Lord it is human nature to think someone will listen to someone that has some clout.  The rich man thought that because Abraham would come back from the dead he could tell his brothers what they should do to not end up where he was in Hades.  Abraham knew that would not make one bit of difference and told the rich man that fact.

Thank You Lord for giving us the opportunity while we are alive to follow You.

Thank You that You continue to call us to give our lives to You.

Thank You that You are patient with us.

Thank You for the peace and joy You alone can give when we look to You and ask forgiveness.

Thank You for Your gift of unconditional love.

Thank You for the hope that wells up within as we trust in You.

Thank You Lord.

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(Jesus continued)  “‘But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them (the rich man’s 5 brothers) hear them.'”  Luke 16:29

Lord, Abraham was right when he told the rich man that if they wouldn’t listen to the prophets they sure wouldn’t listen to him.  And are we any different today Lord.  Somehow that same cord runs through most of us.  We think we have all the right answers.

Thank You Lord for continuing to speak to us as we continue to choose not to listen.

Thank You for continuing to try different ways to get the message to us.

Thank You for the faithful that continue to spread Your word.

Thank You for open ears to hear and hearts to receive.

Open my heart Lord.  Open my ears.

Thank You for loving me unconditionally and never giving up on me.

Thank You Lord.

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(Jesus continued)  “And he (rich man) said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.'”  Luke 16:27, 28

Lord it would certainly be torment even if it wasn’t like the rich man described it if we had to spend all eternity without You.

Thank You Lord for showing us the good side of this rich man when he wanted his five brothers warned.

Thank You for wanting us with You forever.

Thank You for preparing a home for us to be with You forever.

Thank You for Your unconditional love.

Thank You Lord.

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(Jesus continued) (Abraham talking to the rich man) – “And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.”  Luke 16:26

Lord how wide the gap is from one extreme to the other.  I have always pictured heaven as up and hell below.  This story points that out that there is a great distance between.

Thank You Lord for the joy of knowing You and knowing where we will spend all eternity.

Thank You for the contentment You give us.

Thank You for forgiving us and wanting us as Your children.

Amazing Lord, –  I humbly bow.

Thank You Lord.

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(Jesus continued)  “But Abraham said, ‘Son remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.  Luke 16:25

Lord once again You were trying to tell those that were listening to You how important it was to think of eternity rather than the moment.

You also were showing them that often those that have the hardest time on earth have the greatest rewards for all eternity.

Thank You Lord for paying the price for our sins.

Thank You for preparing a place for us to spend all eternity with You.

Thank You for the peace that only You can give.

We are so, so blessed Lord and I thank You.

Thank You Lord.

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(Jesus continued)  “And he (rich man) called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.’    Luke 16: 24

Lord I am sure You had all eyes upon You as You continued this story.

Here was a man that on earth had it all and everyone envied and yet the picture of where he was spending his life after his death was horrible.

Thank You Lord that You have provided a place for us to dwell with You for all eternity.

Thank You for the peace that gives us today as we stumble and fall while trying to live our lives to the best of our ability.

Thank You for forgiveness.

Lord, we have it all because we have You.

Thank You Lord.

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(Jesus continued)  “The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom.  The rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bosom.”  Luke 16:22, 23

Lord the story continues to unfold.  It reminds me of the plaque that I used to see all the time that said, ‘Only one life will soon be passed.  Only what’s done for Christ will last.’

This is what You were showing those that were listening to You and this is what You want us to see today.

Riches pass away and then we face eternity.

Thank You Lord that You know all about us.

Thank You for preparing a place for all that love You.

Thank You for the peace that passes human understanding.

We are Yours Lord and I thank You.

Thank You Lord.

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(Jesus continued)  “There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.  And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus full of sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.”

Luke 16:19 – 21

Lord, the stage is set as the story is told.  You certainly had everyone’s attention.  What were You going to show in this story.  What did You want the Pharisees that were listening to see and understand.  What are we going to learn as this story unfolds.

Thank You Lord that there are those that are rich today and yet they care about those not as fortunate.

Thank You for those that have a meager amount and yet share what they have.

Thank You that we all can give.

Thank You for all You have given us Lord.

Thank You for continuing to teach us how to give with a grateful heart.

Thank You Lord.

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