Luke 16:19-31 (NRSV)
Read Luke 16:19-31 on biblegateway.com
Verse 19"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. Verse 20And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, Verse 21who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. Verse 22The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. Verse 23In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. Verse 24He called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.' Verse 25But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Verse 26Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.' Verse 27He said, 'Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father's house- Verse 28for I have five brothers-that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.' Verse 29Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.' Verse 30He said, 'No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' Verse 31He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"
Devotion
When Jesus tells this story, he does not give the rich man a name. The poor man, however, is named Lazarus. Lazarus lay at the rich man’s gate. He was covered with sores. The rich man was clothed in purple and fine linen. Even though they lived in separate worlds, they were not strangers. And yet the rich man had no use for Lazarus until he was in trouble.
After the rich man dies and is tormented in Hades, he asks for Lazarus by name. “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus … ” he pleads (v. 24). He must have been surprised when Abraham explains how God has already shown mercy – to Lazarus. God turned the rich man’s world upside down.
How has God shown his mercy to us? Today, how is God working through you to show his mercy to those around you, whether or not you know their names?
Prayer
Gracious God, have mercy on us. Open our eyes to see the Lazaruses at our gates. Open our hearts to share your mercy with them and with everyone we will encounter this day. Amen.