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She Out Of Her Poverty Has Put In Everything She Had |Quotes #5|

Updated: Mar 28, 2022

This week has been a hard week. I wrestle with the idea off being a hypocritical Christian. Trying to look neat on the outside. Hoping to say the right things. Yet falling into sins unseen. I feel fake and prideful. Because I know some part off me resists and whisper lies off who I truly am. Feeling never enough, I fall into a negative spiral of thoughts that stop me from online ministry. When I feel far from God— I don't want too evangelize or even write.. and yet through it all the Lord reminds me off His grace recently. That we actually can't do it on our own. Yet it's God who gives His grace freely whenever He wants:

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 🕊️
 

Today's post is about—The Widow's Offering. One off my favorite Biblical examples. That ties in with me feeling like a hypocrite. That ties in how my imperfect life is hard, persecuted, and unpredictable. Yet I forget, just like how Paul writes that even in those circumstances. His grace is enough, never too much nor too little. That despite all that— our strength and our heart in serving stems off the inherent power of Christ that is given upon us...

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 👵🤲


Jesus told His disciples that even as rich people put in large sums of money; there was a lone widow who gave a small amount in comparison— two small copper coins. Would two small coins make a difference? Can it be helpful to anyone? Probably not. Yet Jesus appreciated the widow's offering who gave all she had. Her seemingly small gift was multiple times more valuable in the eyes of God than the large sums from the rich. Because for God who has EVERYTHING, money is small and easy to come by. He can create and destroy the whole earth in an instant. Yet the Lord looks at our hearts to give every man accordingly:

"I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds." Jeremiah 17:10 👑❤️🧠

The widow didn't think much off it, she just wanted to give all she had. She didn't complain or compared herself with anyone. She could choose to only give tithes or apart off her wealth. But you know what she did? She gave all she had. In a similar example, Paul refers to the people of Macedonia who in their extreme poverty also gave:

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 🥺🤗

The people of Macedonia gave beyond their means. Despite not having enough themselves. They longed to share a helping hand for the saints. First and foremost giving up themselves to the Lord. Their lives as a living sacrifice... Writing today's post really invokes my heart. I am a guilty, hypocritical, procrastinating liar. Despite all this façade, I know I haven't given myself whole heartedly. And I know God knows that.

O Lord, I am so sorry... For forgetting all those sleepless night that You led me. From reading one chapter taking up too three hours in forcing myself to read the Bible despite my circumstances 😭. From selling in the streets to get a sale. To how You have led me step-by-step up to now.😭 I am sorry Lord for busying myself with all my worldly cares.😟. For procrastinating in writing pesanpesan.co. I have forgotten my original goal—To do Your work first and foremost. Please Father forgive me... for saying all this theological arguments, yet forgetting to be faithful in my time and wealth for You... to give You the very best off me.

 

Reflection

Dear Lord, thank You. For the Widow's Offering as a truly powerful reminder. To give You my best in all things. She was a 'nobody'. Her name nor description is written. She didn't have anything. Yet she gave all she had. The two small copper coins. Not large. But small. Copper coins. O Lord, when I first started as a Christian I remembered having that same mentality. To step in faith despite struggling in understanding the Bible. To be sanctified and foregoing my past life. It was hard. Yet that 🔥 was there as You were with me in every step. And I thank You Father for giving me a willingness to give my whole heart towards You... It was never about what I had. It was always about my whole life as a living sacrifice. My time, thoughts, money, energy...everything.


Lord, please search my heart and test my mind. Help me today to again be faithful in the little things. Most importantly please fill me with Your love once more.


—As the Church of Macedonia faced extreme poverty yet was able to give. Not because they are able but because You gifted them an overflowing love. That despite their extreme poverty, their compassion emulated Christ. Overflowed in generosity...🤗—


As Paul reminds us about the Church of Macedonia:

For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 2 Corinthians 8:12 🙏

To know that it's what I have now is acceptable. Help me to be ready in mind and heart. To be like the people of Macedonia, the Widow, and most importantly to be like Jesus.. who gave up His royal status in Heaven to save us. He acted as our propitiation of sin for the judgment we should have received. Thank You Jesus. For reminding me of the concept of grace— it is not an instantaneous event yet an everlasting phenomenon and gift in my life. To experience Your daily grace is amazing. Thank You Jesus... Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me... In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.



Updated on:

April 23, 2021 | June 8, 2021


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🎨pesanpesan.co: Mark 12:41-44

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