Good Morning Gorgeous,

It’s a brand new day. A fresh new start!

The weather is cold and rainy today and my dog is laying next to me. I’ve been battling something maybe a cold or a flu, not sure. It hasn’t completely knocked me out, but I can feel my body working hard to fight it.

But today is a stay home and rest day.

And today’s reading is Luke 16.

Jesus starts off with a parable about a man who worked for a very rich man and he was caught being wasteful with his boss’s money.

The man notified him that he was going to be fired, so the man decided to make sure he would have some friends that would take him in when he was poor and out of work.

He went to the people who owed his boss money and reduced their bill greatly if they would pay right away.

His boss commended his wise business dealings and Jesus said that people who are of the world often do business dealings much more wisely than children of the light.

Jesus encouraged His followers to use their worldly wealth to bring people into the Kingdom! And then He shares the most beautiful image! Some of those friends that you make here on earth will be the very ones to welcome you into heaven!

What does this mean?

You can use money and whatever influence and connections you have to advance the KINGDOM and save souls. Think like: ministering to the homeless, preaching to the lost, caring for someone’s needs, sponsoring a child in another country, sharing the gospel with a cashier, banker, ANYONE you do any type of business with, and some will receive Christ as their Lord and Savior because of the gospel that you spread through the open door that you made by sharing worldly wealth.

AND some will Pass into HEAVEN before you do and then when you die, they will welcome YOU into the Kingdom!!!

Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow!

The very people you minister to up close or from afar may be the very souls that are there to celebrate when you make the transition from death to life!!!!

Jesus sure has a way of preaching a message that when understood really helps us to understand how fleeting this earthly life is and how eternity is soooo valuable and beautiful!

And as you use worldly wealth well to advance the kingdom, true riches will be entrusted to you!

Another powerful parable in Luke 16 is the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

The rich man had all the world could offer during his time on earth. His table was continually full and the poor man named Lazarus would sit outside and the dogs would come and lick his sores.

‭‭Luke‬ ‭16:19‭-‬21‬ ‭NLT‬‬
[19] Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. [20] At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. [21] As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.

The rich man passed and so did Lazarus. Lazarus was brought to the table of Abraham in heaven and the rich man went to the place of the dead. There was a great chasm or separation between the two places but the rich man could see Lazarus and he asked Abraham to allow Lazarus to dip his finger in water and touch his tongue. Abraham explains that you cannot cross between the two places. And that Lazarus was being comforted and the rich man who appeared to have everything would continue in his anguish.

‭‭Luke‬ ‭16:25‭-‬26‬ ‭NLT‬‬
[25]  “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. [26] And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’

So the rich man’s attention turned to his family still alive on earth. He asked Abraham to send a messenger. To send Lazarus to warn his five brothers of their impending judgment.

But Abraham explained that they had the written Word. The law and the prophets. They had ACCESS to the truth and if they wouldn’t receive that, then they wouldn’t receive the message even of a person died and rose again!

Wow AGAIN! Because Jesus DID die and was raised to life and many many people including most of the Jews rejected the message of repentance and accepting the Messiah!

And the same is true today. People have access to the FULL Bible with the truth so plainly written and they still reject the only way to eternal Life. Jesus Christ alone!

This chapter of Luke was all about the importance of stewarding our worldly wealth for things of eternal value! Souls! That our choices here affect our eternal life, and as believers we are called to use anything we have to bring souls into the Kingdom!!!

Who are you ministering to this Christmas? Who are you bringing into the Kingdom with you? Who will meet you in heaven and say, “I’m here because you took the time to share Jesus with me.”

Dear Heavenly Father,

Show us where we can do better at stewarding our time, talent, and treasure. Show us opportunities to serve the kingdom and bring in more and more souls to everlasting life.

In Jesus’s Name,

Amen.

Blessings and soul winning!

Vanessa Lynn