Sunday 20 November 2016

Crumbs from the Table

Crumbs from the table.
Jesus tells this parable,
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  
At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores  and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.  
In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  
So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  
And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house,  
for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 
“ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ” Luke 16:19-31.
If you claim to be a Christian you are spiritually rich. You have the word of God in your heart. You know the way of Salvation, the Way to Heaven.
There are many however around the world, around your neighbourhood that are spiritually poor. They are consciously or subconsciously craving the crumbs from your table.
It is my belief if you are not telling them about the word of God you are acting like the rich man. Withholding the most important thing a person needs.
If you are doing anything that would turn someone away from God you are acting like that rich man. If you are not sharing the Gospel for any reason, you are acting like that rich man. And, it is my belief God will hold you accountable for those actions.
I had one man tell me he would not attend the wedding of someone of a different faith. He also told me he wouldn’t let certain religious groups into his home to talk with him.
This to me is not being Christian.
Matthew’s Gospel records,
“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.  
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:10-13.
Jesus said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”Matthew 28:18-20.
You cannot make disciples by choosing who you will speak to or were you will speak to them. As Christians we must be ready to present the Gospel to all people in word and in deed.
Francis of Assisi said,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today”
 Francis of Assisi
Please think about it.

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