Would I of listened? I don't think so

I listened at church today to Tommy preach about a text I have heard maybe fifty times. The Rich man and Lazarus.

Do you remember this story? If you are at all like me you remember not the name, Lazarus, but the story. The rich guy is sent to hell and he begs for droppings of water  on his tongue. Is this how you remember the story? I think I focused more on the thoughts of why do they call it Abraham's bosom? How this rich idiot is calling for a little relief from "this flame".  This is not a story I go back to time and time again and think of all the ways I can learn from this passage.

Today marked a first for me with this passage. I got more today! I got some real learning or conviction from this today!

Let me first share that 2 months ago I was not in the place I am right now spiritually! 2 months ago, honestly, I was not excited about picking up God's Word and reading. A year ago I was! A year ago I could not go a day without craving the Word! A year ago I had so many people in my life who LOVED God's Word. It was so contagious!! Not saying it is fault of anyone but myself!It really helps when you have examples in your life of those who love the scripture. Do you know people who loved the scriptures? I don't mean people who "shove it down your throat" (use it in a bad way) I mean sincere people, who LOVE scripture so much they have it memorized and speak it. They have scripture for everything they do, teach, think. It's not their words but God's? The people who devote hours a day in the Word? People you cannot have a conversation with without them sharing something from the Bible. These are the people I had in my life. I have lost so many of these people in my daily life. All have moved away, one by one.

I share that because my renewed Love for the scriptures is happening! The Word is coming alive to me again! I am renewing my love for them, time in them is not longer a get it done but rather a refresh!!! So seeing this scripture with new eyes this morning was so encouraging and exciting for me!

Back to the story- Luke 16:19 - 31.  I never saw that even in hell the rich man was commanding Lazarus to bring him water. He calls for him- summons him. Really? Lazarus is in heaven and the rich man in hell and he calls to "send" Lazarus! Lazarus is living the good life now after laying at the gates covered with sores and the dogs are licking them. That is nasty!!

So, where I was hit, struck, knocked upside the head was a couple places.

First, that even in hell the rich guy does not see that he has done wrong. He does not repent. He has no remorse for the man begging for food at the gate, the one the dogs are licking his sores. That is so disgusting, it makes me sick.!! I mean seriously, he does not show repentance for being so darn selfish!!

Next, and this is the big one- since Lazarus won't come down to him, the rich guy wants to send him to his family's house. They have (in today's world) the Word, but the rich guy says "someone from the dead must tell them". So the Word is not enough for them to repent, someone else must tell them. As Tommy spoke, I thought about how many times I have thought or said to my parents growing up - "If you only treated me like this, I would of done this..." or "If I would of know all the consequences of my decision I would not have made it." I would see the fault in my way if only..... I would of been convicted I was wrong and repented if only someone told me this.....  If only I..... then I would of changed my attitude, behavior, whatever.

It really all comes down to this with the rich man..... if only He repented of his ways and followed Jesus, he would be with Lazarus and not be looking up to him.

If I had love for Christ and the fruit of love of Christ is OBEDIENCE!!  I would of been treated, given, made Christ honoring choices!!

When we trust in Christ, when we see the love He had for us, we love Christ in a way that the ONLY fruit we bare is obedience. When we are willing to give our ways to Christ, to lay down our life for others we have generosity flowing from our life. When we see we are nothing without Him, we do not think of ourselves at all. When we obey not out of fear, or so God will bless us, or out of pride because it makes me feel good to know I am a good person, or out of good things we will receive, or out of our own power we will humbly trust in God's character and depend on His power to work through us and we will stand in His confidence of His Promises!! For He tells us He has no delight in anything we do that is in our self. He delights in us obeying Him because He loved us first!!

When we do things for the soul purpose to obey in Him then He will be pleased! At that point there is no I or ME!!

And this is where I want to be!! Snuggled in His promises and not ever thinking His Word is not enough!! I do not want to obey others because they have warned me but because GOD Said SO!!!!