Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
February 4, 2024
Mark 12:41-44
41 Jesus sat across from the collection box for the temple treasury and observed how the crowd gave their money. Many rich people were throwing in lots of money. 42 One poor widow came forward and put in two small copper coins worth a penny. 43 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I assure you that this poor widow has put in more than everyone who’s been putting money in the treasury. 44 All of them are giving out of their spare change. But she from her hopeless poverty has given everything she had, even what she needed to live on.”
Good Morning! We are reborn in love and faith!
Why do we give to the church? The obvious answer is to fund the ministry of the church. What is the ministry of the church? If we consider the charge we are given as Christians, we would say to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love others as ourselves. Serving is a major part of loving God and one another.
It is reasonable to say this is one reason to give to the church, and our gifts include our money, time, and resources. What else? Well, there is the command to go and make disciples of the world. That requires time, money, and resources, as well. Serving God and one another and making disciples are part of our mission as Christians and as the church.
Part of our gifts to the church are also used to maintain a worship space for the body of Christ to gather. We are called to join together to pray, sing, praise God, and study the Word. It is good to have a warm, welcoming space in which to share together.
So, why did the widow give all that she had? She gave out of faith, knowing that God promises to be with us in our times of need, and in giving she would be blessed. Imagine the abundance of blessings to the one who gives everything they have in service to Christ.
Perhaps it isn’t feasible to give all we have, so what lesson can we learn? We should set aside our gift to the church first. We do this so that we don’t determine our gifts based on what is left over after we indulge our wants and wish lists.
Gracious God, Thank you for this beautiful gift of life. You bless us and promise to provide for our needs. May we be generous in our gifts of service to others. We thank you! In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Acts of kindness are generous gifts of God’s love.
Be a cheerful giver! Pastor Liz