In an age where we’re fixated on bridging the gap through social systems for the under-privileged, or bridging the gap through tolerance, inclusion, awareness training, multi-faith groups and multi-party governments, today’s chapter shows a place in time and space where it’ll be impossible to bridge the gap…
READ LUKE 16 Make notes, if you’d like, of what stands out for you. Feel free to use the “Leave a Comment” box below to also write some of your thoughts.
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
If I’m tempted to wonder what on earth will get through to people who seem to have incomprehensible behaviour, like the rich man in today’s chapter [v19-31], I might start with looking in the mirror. But if the whole of the script is designed to remind us of how the Creator God has bridged the gap between heaven and earth, ever since the beginning of His epic drama, today’s chapter tells us that a chasm has also been fixed by the Creator between heaven and hell – a gulf between the two. [v26] What’s interesting for me, is that Jesus had nothing to gain from telling us any of this. And, looking around at the chaos in the world today, one could argue that Father God hasn’t gained much from preserving this information in Luke’s book over the past 2,000 years.
But here’s the thing, and it’s hard to get around or ignore: if I’m not listening to what’s right under my nose in the 66 books of my Maker’s Handbook for LIFE (miraculously preserved more than 3,500+ years and translated into every language on earth so that I can read it today), and if I can’t ‘bridge the gap’ in my own mind, by naturally gravitating towards the facts that I’ve been given, then nothing supernatural will convince me… [v31]
Read More? …CLICK on “24 March – Additional Notes”
But what about your thoughts – can you tell me what today’s “breadcrumb” is? Leave a note in the “Comments” box below to tell me what you think of today’s chapter.
Wanting to ‘connect to dots’ with the Great Bridge Builder? The rest of this webpage uses Jesus’ own prayer to help…[a]
THE LORD’S PRAYER:
1. Praise: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your Kingdom come! Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven …”
I love you, Lord. You’re my strength, my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. You’re my God in whom I take refuge. You’re my shield and the strength of my salvation – my stronghold. I called to the Lord, who’s worthy of all praise, and I’ve been saved from my enemies. [Psalm 18:1-3]
2. Ask: “…Give us today our daily bread…”
The World: Pray for the people of Cambodia[b]
Your Country: Those gripped with pornography
Yourself: A deeper commitment to the Lord
Your concerns for today
You took up my pain and carried my suffering, Lord. Yet somehow, I considered You unworthy – someone who was punished by God and afflicted. But You were pierced for my transgressions and crushed for the things I’ve done wrong. The punishment that brought me peace was on You, and now, by Your wounds I’m healed! [Isaiah 53:4-5]
3. Admit: “…Forgive us our sin as we forgive those who sin against us…”
Equip me with everything good for doing Your will, Father God. May You work out through me what is pleasing to You, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. [Hebrews 13:21]
4. Protect: “…Lead us not into temptation but delivers us from evil.”
You’ve shown me what’s good, O God. So what do You require of me except to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with You. [Micah 6:8]
“For Yours Lord is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory now and forever. Amen!”
When Jesus was questioned, tested, tricked or in His hour of great need, He always spoke things that were previously written in God’s Word.[c] Following these memory verses from ten topics, will help you learn 52 verses from the bible in a year! THIS WEEK’S MEMORY VERSE: Sharing the Creator God’s Good News
“Let your conversations be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” [Colossians 4:6]
[a] Matthew 6:5-15
[b] http://www.operationworld.org/country/camb/owtext.html
[c] Matthew 4:4,6,7,10; 11:10; 21:13; and 26:24,31