March 12, 2020
Thursday for di Second Week of Lent
Readings for Today
Listen for English
When di poor man die, angels carry am go rest for Abraham arm. Di rich man too die, and dem bury am. From di world of di dead, where e dey suffer torment, e raise im eyes see Abraham far away, with Lazarus for im side. Luke 16:22–23
If you must choose, which one you go prefer? To be rich, dey chop fine-fine food every day, dey wear purple clothes, and get everything wey you fit ever want for this world? Or to be poor beggar wey sores cover im body, wey dey live for doorway and dey feel di pain of hunger? If we no look am deep, di question easy to answer. When we first think am, life of riches and comfort dey attract us pass. But we no suppose look di question only from outside; we must look deeper and think about di full difference between these two people, and how di life wey dem dey live inside their heart dey affect their souls wey go live forever.
As for di poor man, when e die, “angels carry am go rest for Abraham arm.” As for di rich man, Scripture talk say e “die, and dem bury am,” and e go di “world of di dead, where e dey suffer torment.” Chai! Now, which of dem you go prefer to be like?
Even though person fit want to be rich for this life AND di next one, no be that one be di main point of Jesus story. Di main point of His story simple: while we still dey this Earth, we must repent, turn away from sin, listen to di words of Scripture, believe, and keep our eyes on our true goal—di riches of Heaven.
Whether you rich or poor for this life no really suppose be di thing wey matter. Even though e hard to truly accept this one inside our heart, na wetin we must aim for. Heaven and di riches wey dey wait for us there must be wetin we set our mind on. And we dey prepare for Heaven as we dey hear di Word of God and respond with all di generosity wey we get.
Di rich man for fit respond for this life by recognising di dignity and value of di poor man wey lie for im doorway, and by reaching out to am with love and mercy. But e no do am. Na only imself e put im mind on too much.
Today, think deeply about di clear difference between these two men, especially di eternity wey dey wait for each of dem. If you see any way wey your heart dey draw you towards sin like this rich man for your own life, turn away from these sins and repent today. See di dignity and value of every person wey you meet. And if you dey tend to put your mind more on only yourself, with selfish enjoyment and excess taking over your heart, seek to embrace real poverty of spirit. Try to hold on only to God and di plenty blessings wey dey come when we fully embrace everything wey He don reveal to us.
Lord, abeg free me from my selfishness. Instead, help me to keep my mind on di dignity of everybody and to give my whole self to serve dem. Make I see Your image for di poor, di people wey life don break, and di humble. And as I dey discover Your presence for their lives, make I love You inside dem and seek to be instrument of Your mercy. Jesus, na You I trust.
40 Days for di Foot of di Cross – Reflection Fifteen – To Hear and Keep di Word of God
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Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
