What is required to be convinced
by Glenn Crouch
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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).
Read Luke 16:19–31
In my younger days, I was very zealous for the Lord. I studied a lot of apologetics. But I fell into the trap of thinking that if I had a really good argument, that would then convince others to follow Jesus.
Don’t get me wrong – apologetics is a useful tool. We should know what we believe and why. We should be prepared to give a good defence and to do so respectfully and gently (1 Peter 3:15). And yes, for some, the Holy Spirit will use a strong argument to move them along their journey to and with Jesus.
In this parable of Jesus, we see that the rich man discovers his error too late. The Lazarus in this story is not the brother of Martha and Mary; instead, he is a poor beggar. Some argue that Jesus gives him a name (whereas the rich man doesn’t have one) because God knew him.
The rich man, in his torment, wants Abraham to send Lazarus to minister to him. When that fails, he wants Abraham to send Lazarus to his brothers so that at least they will change their ways. Notice that there is no repentance by the rich man. He wants his needs met and wants Lazarus (whose needs in life were ignored by the rich man) to be the one to do it.
Our Father in Heaven has already supplied all we need. To ‘update’ what Abraham says in this parable, we have the Bible, and we have our Lord Jesus, who did rise from the dead. Evidence is not what is needed; rather, our hearts need to change. We need the Holy Spirit to be at work changing the hearts of those who do not know Jesus.
List some who require the Holy Spirit’s work on their hearts, then pray for them.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the work your Holy Spirit has done within me, and please continue this work. Thank you for the Scriptures and for all you have done for me through my Lord Jesus. Make me your instrument. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Glenn is the pastor of St John’s Lutheran Church in Esperance and looks after St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Kalgoorlie–Boulder, Western Australia. Glenn and Karen have been married since 1985. They have two grown sons and are enjoying regular video chats with their first grandchild.
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