"Alright, everyone settled?" Everyone faced Philip and nodded. "Alright then, let us pray." Everyone lifted up their heads and palms.
"Heavenly Father, we humbly come before you and give you praise. we thank you for allowing us this time to fellowship. As we study your word, may you allow us wisdom and guidance so we can understand your word. May we take what we learn with us as we seek to grow in faith. In everything, may not OUR will be done; may YOUR will be done. And the church says-" "Ahmein" the group prayed.
"What are we studying today, Philip?" Piper asked curiously.
"Today we are studying the story of Lazarus and the rich man. Everyone turn to Luke 16. We'll start at verse 19." Everyone nodded as they flipped through their bibles to find the right spot.
"I'll start us off : 'There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.' Man, poor Lazarus. The only comfort he got was from dogs; some of the lowest regarded creatures of the time..." Philip sighed sadly. Then he looked up at the group.
"Anyone wanna pick up at verse 22?"
"I will." Maverick nodded. " 'The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire. Man, the descriptions of eternal torment never fail to give me anxiety. I don't even want to imagine what it's like going through that kind of suffering..." Maverick admitted with his shoulders tensed.
"Yeah...neither do i..."
Milo agreed with a hard swallow; feeling his own throat going dry at this terrifying description. After a moment, Maverick relaxed and look at Piper.
"You wanna go next, sis?"
To which Piper nodded. "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' whooo boy that gave me chills. Really goes to show that you really gotta make sure you're living life here on earth properly. Because this is the only chance you have to get it right. Once you pass on, that's it." Piper stated with a shiver.
"Yep...o-only chance to get it right..."
Milo echoed; an anxious feeling rising in his chest. The 13 year tried to squash down this feeling when Piper looked at him. "Your turn to read, Milo." Milo nodded in understanding; taking a breath to try to steady his nerves.
"'He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'"
the anxious feeling started to rise again in Milo's chest. Milo took another breath in hopes of calming himself down as he continued to read. "
A-Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'
Milo, hating the trembling in his voice, gulped in nervousness.
"'N-No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, t-they will repent.'
"Milo?" Milo felt his hands start to tremble, and he thought he heard someone say his name, but he kept on reading.
"H-He said to him, 'If they do not listen to M-Moses and the Prophets, t-t-they will not be c-convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"
"Milo?? MILO!" Milo jumped as he heard his name being called multiple times and felt a hand patting his shoulder. Looking up, he tried to focus on the group, only to find that his vision was being blurred by tears. The group starred at Milo in concern, Philip opening his mouth to say something, when Milo suddenly stood up.
"INEEDTOGETADRINKOFWATERILLBERIGHTBACK!!" Milo exclaimed in a hurry as he raced out of the room; leaving the group in stunned silence.
YOU ARE READING
Do not neglect to meet together
Spiritual13 year old Milo has been growing stronger in faith through the bible studies with his 18 year old cousin, Philip, and siblings Maverick and Piper; Philip's friends. The only thing that Milo longs for is for his parents to be a part of the faith. an...
