I’ll use Psalms 31:1-4, 8:1, and 16:2

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Luke 16. The Mind of the Spirit began working on the spirit of my mind as I contemplated verses 19-21:

Luke 16:19 ¶ There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

Luke 16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

Luke 16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

The first thing I noticed was that the poor man, Lazarus, was “laid at his gate.” Someone carried, or helped, the poor, diseased man to the rich man’s gate. “Desiring to be fed” suggests that Lazarus wanted to be laid there, hoping that the rich man of the house would send servants to the gate with crumbs (scraps) from his sumptuous table. He did his “dumpster diving” in the best neighborhoods.

The second thing I noticed is that nothing is said about the rich man refusing to send his scraps to the poor, diseased Lazarus. We are not told whether he did or didn’t. The fact that Lazarus’ friend, friends, or family and friends thought this would be the best place for him could have been because they had reason to hope this rich man would have at least that little bit of pity upon Lazarus. On the other hand, those who laid him there might have been as guilty of neglect as the rich man might have been accused of. Didn’t they have at least some “crumbs” to share?

What if the basis upon which the self-righteous rich man rested his petition to send Lazarus to him with a finger tip of water was, in his mind,  just compensation for the few “crumbs” he sent to Lazarus from time to time?

I don’t think the rich man went to hell because he failed to feed poor Lazarus. It’s because he died a sinner, condemned unclean. Lazarus did not go to heaven because God took pity on his poverty (Leviticus 19:15)! He went because he humbly believed, as did his father, Abraham (Genesis 15:6; one of the most popular Old Testament verses in the New — Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:6; James 2:23).

Along the still waters, I thought of how rich in Christ we are, and how pitiable are all without Him: we are joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17), to whom, with Him, we are given all things (Romans 8:32), ours are the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:7; 2:7; 3:8). Llike the rich man, we feast “sumptuously” every day, only we sit in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 2:6), and enjoy the blessings of “all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

In truth, the rich man was the pauper, and Lazarus was the blessed. The rich man’s sores plagued his soul; Lazarus’ pains were only skin deep.

Shall we begrudge the dog that gathers the crumbs that fall from the children’s table (Mark 7:28)? Let’s not neglect the “rich man” or the poor man—let’s love and honor all men. When the two outcast lepers found bread they kept it not for themselves alone. The reasonsed:

2Kings 7:8 And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.

2Kings 7:9 Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household.

Do we do well to hide the true riches we have found from those who sit at our “gates” full of soul-sores? I think not!

In the valley, kneeling at the gate of heaven, the great ladder by which God came down to man to repentant man, to lift him to God (Genesis 28:10-19; see John 1:50-51; see Isaiah 57:15), I received again my “daily bread,” and share it with thee! For this is the gate where my soul lies wait daily for my bread: and I heard Jesus when He said: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

At the table, we sat together in heavenly places, in sweet communion. He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with the day’s toil and mixed into it His grace with good measure. I sure needed the sufficiency of His grace today. So glad He is faithful.

Goodness and mercy appeared, assisted my weary self to my feet, and we walked together into the harvest.

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live asap:

https://studio.rumble.com/studio/d29cfc05-b3e1-4189-af15-cf4c251230f0

I’m trying something new; Rumble has provided a livestreaming platform I want to explore.