Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
"Take That Off the Bucket List"
Jul. 3, 2018
And he said, "Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house --for I have five brothers -- so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment."
~ Luke 16:27-28 (ESV)
Most people have a bucket list, that is a list of things they would like to do, or see, before they "kick the bucket."
Recently, Myda Lewis, of Stillwater, Oklahoma, was asked if she had anything left on her bucket list. She replied, "Why, yes, I do. I do have one thing which I have never accomplished."
Only one thing? To have only one thing on your bucket list is pretty good. Most folks have more than one thing; some folks have a lot more. Well, maybe Lewis has only one thing on her list because she has been working at whittling it down for a long time.
You see, Lewis just celebrated her 107th birthday.
Curious, Lewis' questioner asked, "And just what would that one thing be?"
With a bit of a twinkle in her eye, she confessed, "I always wanted to ride in a convertible in a parade." Well, a ride in a convertible didn't seem too hard a thing to pull off. A few phone calls were made, and Lewis was scheduled for her ride.
What Lewis didn't figure on was the good people of Stillwater. The staff at Physician's Choice led the charge with more phone calls. Businessmen on Main Street were cooperative. They promised to come on out and wave as Lewis went by.
Someone created a Facebook event, and soon 800 people said they were going to be there. They were joined by the police, by fire department, by mobile TV news vans. As one person in attendance said, "We're out today because what a fun thing to celebrate! I mean, who gets to turn 107? And if she wants to have a parade, by golly, we're going to give her a parade!
Well, Lewis got her parade, hundreds of people along the route, a dozen red roses, and a giant card with tons of signatures.
Now you may wonder what the text above has to do with bucket lists.
The answer is simple. That text is taken from Jesus' parable about the rich man and Lazarus. It was made by the rich man when he realizes his five brothers don't have salvation on their bucket lists. Wishing to help them, he asks that Lazarus be allowed to go back and scare them into heaven.
When he is informed in so many words, "No can do. His brothers should look to the prophets," the rich man says, "My brothers won't listen to the prophets, but they will pay attention to someone who has come back from the dead."
Now if you have always agreed with that rich man, that is, a person returning from the grave would convince people to believe, I've got good news. In reality, Someone did return from the grave and show Himself to the world. That Person was the Savior, whose life has been given to win our forgiveness and salvation.
By God's grace, while there is time, may the world see -- and be brought to faith in -- the risen Savior.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, accept my thanks for all You have done to save me. Grant that lost souls may see You and Your love which saves. In Your Name I pray it. Amen.
The above devotion was inspired by a number of sources, including one written by Sunny Skyz on June 22, 2018. Those who wish to reference that article may do so at the following link, which was fully functional at the time this devotion was written: https://www.sunnyskyz.com/good-news/2865/Her-Birthday-Wish-Was-To-Ride-In-A-Convertible-In-A-Parade-So-The-Town-Threw-Her-A-Parade
Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Most people have a bucket list, that is a list of things they would like to do, or see, before they "kick the bucket."
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