PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Luke 16:19-31

What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?

“The beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. (Luke 16:22)
The Jews saw themselves as Abraham’s children, heirs of the promise.
But in this story, being related to Abraham is not enough.
It is not physical heirs of Abraham, but spiritual heirs.
Look at the people Jesus honours with Abraham:
* the unclean bleeding woman a daughter of Abraham (Luke 13:16)
* tax collector Zacchaeus was a son of Abraham (Luke 19:9)
* the Roman centurion’s had faith like Abraham (Matthew 8:10-12)
We are called to be like Abraham, to do what he did (John 8:39).
Abraham was blessed to bless the nations (Genesis 12:1-3).
In this story the rich man blesses himself and disregards others.
If we can’t be trusted with this blessing, we lose it (see 16:10-12).
Jesus is the promised seed of Abraham, showing us how to bless others.
He challenges the proud, and offers grace to the humbled.
Am I more like the religious proud, or like the humble beggar?
PRAYER
Lord, help me to be a child of Abraham in sharing, not hoarding, God’s blessing.