The Devotional

What does Papa “J” Say?

The curse of the LORD is conditional and focused on the wicked. Are you wicked? Your fears are real; protect your household! The blessing of the LORD is also conditional, so live justly in your community and Fear the LORD. Awesome difference! Proverbs 3:33

I have a friend who is home with the LORD these days, he used to say that the world is full of “needy people”. I am a person who likes words, some of you must have figured that out by now. Words are like pieces of a puzzle and when you fit them together, up pops a story or an expression. The story describes an event of fiction that parallels truth or it is a story of real truth. Expressions make the story have life, have suspense and give current everyday meaning to the reader. The best story teller ever, is the LORD Jesus Christ. The story of the rich man and Lazarus is a true event in history, both of these men had “needs”. These are the same needs my friend made reference to when he stated that the world is full of needy people. What I would like for us to see this morning is that in Luke 16:19-31, Jesus is explaining an eternal truth that is both a real life truth and a truth of our eternal destiny. Some have argued that this event is strictly a parable and not a true event in history. Let me point out the obvious. Lazarus is a real person, Abraham is a real person. The need of mercy and the cry for help, are real eternal needs. The torment of an unsaved person is an unfulfilled eternal need. The five brothers have real needs. The resurrection of the dead is real. Yet, like my friend and Lazarus God has met all their real needs. Like Lazarus and my friend, our needs are physical, spiritual and eternal. They have been justified, sanctified and glorified by the grace of God. Repent and Jesus will satisfy all your needs too. Romans 8:30

The Gospel of John

John 10:1-6 Another favorite chapter of this gospel. There is only ONE WAY to enter the kingdom of God. Religion has blinded eyes of mankind since the fall of Adam and Eve. You remember how Adam and Eve put together a few leaves from some plant to make clothing to cover their guilty condition. God said NO, I am not pleased with your attempt to temporarily hide you guilt from me. Let ME satisfy your need of hiding your guilt. Genesis 3:21

The religions of the world say, nah! There must be some other way to please God then to kill the innocent animal. What? Did you hear the story of God Himself giving us His Son as a sacrifice that not only takes away our original guilt, but also permanently takes away all the sins that will ever be committed by man? Now, what father would ever do that to his own son? This too must be fiction, or a lie and maybe even the story of someone who has lost their mind.

The thief and the robber are Satan and his religions of good and evil. THERE MUST BE ANOTHER WAY! God says NO! No other way. Those who hear this message come to the door and the doorkeeper opens the door. His voice is a voice of comfort and grace. The hearer enters the door and eternal peace satisfies the need. Follow Me, the voice explains and you follow for you know the voice. Strangers cannot follow simply because they do not know Him and their NEEDS are still very REAL and ETERNAL.