Thursday, March 6

THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2014

Numbers 6:1–7:89

Mark 12:38–13:13

Psalm 49:1–20

Proverbs 10:27,28

 

 

“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury.  Many rich people threw in large amounts.  But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

 

“Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.  They gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on.’” (March 12:41–44)

 

 

The widow demonstrated the depths of her commitment through giving sacrificially.  Here, Jesus touches upon the nature of righteous generosity, which may involve giving until it hurts.  The widow implicitly must trust God for the next step, having thrown everything into the temple’s coffers.  Devoted to the Lord, the widow, like Abraham with Isaac on Mt. Moriah, believed:  “God himself will provide… ” (Genesis 22:8)  The widow had abandoned her self-preoccupation and turned to a radical reliance on God.  While the world would have called her a fool, Jesus esteems her faith and generosity.

 

More broadly, Jesus calls His disciples to take up their crosses, proclaiming a death to self and living fully for the King.  In Luke 14:26,27, He explains:  “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, even his own life – such a man cannot be my disciple.  And whoever does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”  What radical commitment!

 

Yet, Jesus understood and practiced that rabbinical truth that committed, edified followers would bring forth a harvest of life and righteousness.  He spoke to the crowds, taught the Twelve closely, but mentored three (Peter, James, and John) even more closely.  As Ronald Coleman points out in the The Master Plan of Evangelism, Jesus placed an all-in bet on His disciples.  The Word rooted in them; the consistency of His loving encouragement, edification, and sometimes rebuke; and the promised Holy Spirit would guide these first followers to multiply into a movement.

 

For us today, we may assess the depth of our commitment.  Do we approach God each day with the hope of surrendering more fully and growing more deeply in love, forsaking whatever is holding us back?  Or are we content to rest on yesterday’s victories?  Are we training, like an athlete, for spiritual battle, or are we merely “clicking through the channels” of life and looking primarily for comfort?

 

This account challenges me.  It is my observation that, in business, companies that are not constantly innovating are susceptible to falling behind.  Likewise, we must grow deeper and deeper in commitment by intentionally pursuing the throne of heavenly grace, taking in the Word, and being filled with the Holy Spirit.  We must look for other areas to surrender to the Lordship of Christ.  We must not allow ourselves to be satisfied with yesterday’s grace.  Experience in living this way will build our trust in the living God, Who is really the One pursuing us.  We just need to be willing and ready to meet Him.

 

Romans 12:1,2:  “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

 

 

Lord Jesus, help us to become more and more committed to loving You and following You.  Show us where we may give our lives more completely to Your sovereign will.  Grow our trust and dependence on Your provision, and reveal Yourself to be fully faithful and altogether worthy of our every moment.  We need You and Your grace; please cast out our unbelief and spiritual weakness.  Send Your Holy Spirit to refresh us and make us hungry for You.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

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