Article for November 10, 2024
Mark 12:38–40 38In his teaching [Jesus] said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
Beware of anyone who tries to steal the limelight and speak as if they know more than you do. Beware of those who feel they are better than you because the world has made them a celebrity. Be aware of those who call themselves an expert and tell false prophesies to bolster their own agenda. Be aware of those whose agendas only appear to be for you, when truthfully in the shadows their agenda rages against you. Be aware that your choices were not made without the knowledge you should have had.
These people who think more highly of themselves and do good works in their own name will not be recognized by God’s grace and mercy. Not that they cannot be saved, as it is, repentance must take place, for all who sin. But what are the chances of repentance when one is caught up in the fog of self-proclamation.
Long prayers and especially those that repeat themselves so they can be long, come to deaf ears as they only are for show. It truly is the short prayer or the prayer one could not get out that is heard for these prayers truly come from the heart. God hears us even when we cannot speak because God is written on our hearts.
Mark 12:41–42 41And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.
It is easy to give of yourself when you have an abundance sometimes. Greed can take over even the wealthiest and cause them to withhold their giving. Some fear giving because they are afraid, they will not have enough to live on. But these same people who fear they will not have enough money spend their money on foolish things instead of paying their bills. Greed is not just a rich man’s folly; it also can affect the poor.
But the one who gives out of their poverty through their heart also gives through their faith. As was the lady who had a little flour and oil to feed her son and herself. When Elijah explained she would not run out of flour or oil, the lady, through faith, made a cake of bread for Elijah as well. What you give from the heart is paid forward to you through faith in the God who will not let you starve.
Mark 12:43–44 43And 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. 44For 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.”
So, this poor widow gave out of faith which was a greater tithe than those who gave out of their abundance. Why give anything to God if your heart is hardened. See the generosity of God in your life, that is God’s grace and mercy given to you. Does God’s grace and mercy warrant your love for Him that as He gives from His heart to you, that you might give from your heart to Him.
1 Kings 17:14–16 14For thus says the Lord the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” 15And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. 16The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.
God will not let you starve, go without clothing, or go without shelter, unless you have hardened your heart to be brutal to God. Remember, even if you do harden your heart towards God, He will always let you back into His arms and love you, clothe you, shelter you, feed you, and save you. God does not have a hardened heart but one of grace and mercy.
Hebrews 9:27–28 27And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
We should know that we can eagerly wait for our Savior to come back. He, Jesus, died for our sins past present and future. Jesus suffered on purpose for the purpose of saving you God’s creation, God’s dear children here on this earth. God perfected a way to save us from our sin, cleanse us from our sin, and cloth us in the righteousness of His only begotten Son. Jesus clothes us in His righteousness so that we can live forever in the shelter of His Father’s house. Amen.
Written by Pastor Curtis A. May
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