"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)
Friday, March 8, 2024 - Day 68 (Through the Bible in a year readings for today: Deuteronomy 8-10; Mark 12:28-44 )
THE WIDOW’S MITE IS MORE
And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41-44 ESV)
The Christian business man had just been asked to make a contribution to a worthy Christian mission endeavor. He responded, “I’ll be glad to give my widow’s mite.” The person soliciting the gift responded, “Can you really afford to do that? She gave all she had.”
In recounting this story, Jesus is emphasizing the tremendous faith this widow had in giving God all she had. There was no welfare system in her day. There was no insurance policy ready to meet her needs upon the death of her husband. By giving all she had to live on, she was showing her complete dependence on God.
By doing so, she put the rich people who gave large sums to shame. She gave sacrificially and faithfully from her heart. They gave sparingly from their wealth.
Now God is not asking us to donate all we have to worthy Christian endeavors. What He is asking is that we put Him first in everything we do. He is asking us to live sacrificially for Him since He died sacrificially for us.
In the words of Jesus:
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33 ESV)
Heavenly Father, help me to trust in you as completely as the widow did. Teach me to put You first in my every aspect of my life. To this end, continually remind me of all that Jesus did in sacrificing Himself for my salvation. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
Daily Bible Reading Chart covering the entire Bible in one year.
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