January 14, 2016:  SOAP #2233:

Scripture:  Luke (NIV) 14:12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.  13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Observation:  There are several things Jesus reveals to us in this passage.  First, we can do kind things for people for which we will be repaid when they do something kind for us.  Second, we can do kind things for people who have no way to repay us.  Third, life does not end at death.  Fourth, life after death is affected by life before death.

Application:  So I should live my life before death in preparation for my life after death.  If I do not get recognition or repayment or reward for what I do, I should rejoice.  Surely the reward awaiting in heaven will be better by far than any reward man may give me now!
Prayer:   Lord, as the Great Judge, you not only set punishment, you also set rewards.  You are generous in rewarding your children who serve those having no way to repay, especially those who wait until the resurrection for their reward. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!