June 18, 2026
Scripture: Luke Chapter 16
Focus Verse: 10 – “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.”
Focus Verses 19-31, the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
A beggar names Lazarus was laid outside a rich man’s house hoping for some crumbs to fall from the rich man’s table. He had wounds in his skin and dogs came to lick his sores, but he died.
Verse 22 – “So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom.”
The rich man had no mercy on the beggar, even in his abundance, he denied Lazarus food, help, kindness and compassion. Then he also died and was buried.
Verse 23 – “And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.”
The rich man wanted some relief from his torment and he spoke to Abraham asking for mercy and wanting water to cool his tongue.
Verse 25, 26 – “But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’”
Pondering this, verse 10 comes to mind. The rich man who had much was not faithful with it. He was unjust in the way he treated the beggar. And his punishment came upon him in his death.
Isn’t it interesting that both the rich man and the beggar died, but for both, the outcome of their death was quite different? Angels came and carried Lazarus to Abraham’s bosom. Where was Abraham? He was in heaven with God. Where was the rich man? He was in Hades being tormented by the fires of hell.
The rich man called out for mercy when he was in Hades, but his behavior and life choices had consequences in death. As Abraham told him, there was a fixed gulf between them that no one on either side could pass through. This rich man would be separated from God’s goodness for eternity. The poor man was shown the grace and mercy of a just God and when he died, he received God’s gift of eternal life.
Like the rich man, we too have received our ‘good things’ in life. We get choose the outcome of our death by what we do with our lives in the time that we are given. We can choose the mercy and grace of a kind, generous, just God, or we can choose to go our own way living life apart from Him. There is a future point in time when it will be too late to choose God and His ways.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:21- “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven.”
He also says in Luke 13: 24,25 – “And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from.’”
I often hear the question, ‘Why would a good God, send someone to Hell?’ The answer is He never would. We do that to ourselves. God gave us free will to decide whether or not to believe in Him and enter into a relationship with Him through His Son. He knew that love demanded would not be sincere. He wants us to choose to love Him and to believe that His Son is the Christ who was sent to make us righteous before Him.
“For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,” I Thessalonians 5:9
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
“Tell and bring forth your case; Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the Lord? And there is no other God besides Me, A just God and a Savior; There is none besides Me.” Isaiah 45:21
God loves us, He sees our hearts. He knows what is in us. He can see if we are for Him or if we’ve rejected Him. Why should He, who is just, let us into His eternal Kingdom if we have never chosen to believe that He is who He said He is, and to love Him back?
“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” Revelation 3:8
“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:12,13
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20
Father God,
You are a just God! You are the only God and Jesus is Your only Son. He says in Revelation 1:18, “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”
We do not deserve the grace that You’ve made available to us in Jesus. We have all acted unjustly and done things we regret. None of us is worthy and we ask You to forgive us.
Please help us to choose Your way over our own way that one day when we close our eyes on this earth, we will immediately see the door open so that we may enter into your heavenly kingdom where there is no more death—where we will be alive with You forevermore.
May we act justly, unlike the rich man, and have humble hearts to acknowledge that all the good things we’ve been given have come from You. Help us to use our gifts to love You and other’s in such a way that You will will be glorified, that many will be saved by Jesus, and that all will be blessed.
Thank You for forgiving our sins and for making our hearts new. Help us to choose to walk, talk and live with You each and every day of our lives.
It is in Jesus name we pray.
Amen
Whispers from God 