Hearing, Believing, and Living Out Our Faith
“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 16:31
Brothers and sisters, today we turn our attention to one of Jesus’ most powerful and convicting parables—the Rich Man and Lazarus. It’s a story of contrast, warning, and most importantly, a call to live out our faith with compassion, mercy, and love. Jesus, in His divine wisdom, not only tells a story but gives us a mirror to examine our own hearts.
1. The Warning of the Word:
The rich man, clothed in purple and fine linen, lived in luxury every day. But outside his gate lay Lazarus, a poor man covered with sores, longing for even the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table.
The rich man saw Lazarus every day. But his wealth, comfort, and selfishness blinded him to the suffering of another human being—someone God had placed right at his door.
The tragedy of the rich man was not his wealth, but his heart. A heart that had grown cold to the very commandments God had given through Moses and the Prophets—to love our neighbor, to care for the poor, the widow, the orphan, and the stranger.
The rich man’s downfall was not a lack of knowledge but a lack of action.
2. Faith That Transforms Our Lives:
Jesus’ words ring true today: “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”
We know, as believers, that Jesus Himself did rise from the dead! Yet, not everyone believes. Why? Because belief is more than acknowledging a miracle—it’s accepting the truth of God’s Word and living it out.
True faith does not end with acknowledgment. It must be demonstrated by our actions, just as James 2:17 says, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
3. Living Out Our Faith—Loving Our Neighbor:
Jesus said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39)
This command is not just a suggestion; it is the very essence of what it means to follow Christ. It’s about seeing the Lazarus at our gate—the homeless man, the lonely widow, the brokenhearted child, the struggling friend. It’s about looking beyond our comfort to see the needs of others.
But it’s more than just seeing; it’s acting. It’s extending our hand, sharing our resources, and offering our time. It’s standing in prayer for the lost and the suffering.
4. The Call to Compassion:
Jesus is calling us to something deeper today. To live out the truth of His resurrection by living like Him. Jesus didn’t just preach love—He demonstrated it through acts of healing, feeding, comforting, and forgiving. And, ultimately, through laying down His life.
As Christians, we are called to follow His example.
When we see someone in need, we do not turn away.
When we encounter the lost, we reach out with the love of Christ.
When we hear the Word, we respond in obedience.
5. How Should We Live Today?
Open Our Eyes: See those in need around us. Recognize the Lazarus at our own gate.
Act in Love: Go beyond words. Provide help, comfort, and kindness to those who suffer.
Spread the Good News: Share the truth of the risen Christ, not only through words but through deeds of love and mercy.
Commit to God’s Word: Let the Scriptures transform our hearts and guide our actions.
Conclusion:
Beloved, the rich man’s plea for his brothers was that they would hear and repent. Today, we have something even greater than the testimony of Moses and the Prophets. We have the risen Christ! And His Spirit is calling us to be His hands and feet in a broken world.
Will we hear His voice? Will we believe His Word? And will we live it out by loving our neighbor as ourselves?
Let’s respond to this call with hearts of compassion, lives of service, and faith that bears fruit.
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word, which calls us to repentance, faith, and love. Open our eyes to see those in need, soften our hearts to respond with compassion, and strengthen our hands to serve as You have called us to. May our faith be more than words, but a living testimony of Your love in this world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.