2010-10-15 - Crutches and Pennies

Part 2

Mark 12:42-44

42. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
43. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44. For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

"All that she had" - She gave her all. It wasn't much - two mites, a couple of cents but it was all she had and that is what mattered more. Do we really give our all? We must. After all we sing about putting our all on the altar of sacrifice and we don't come forward crying, weeping, sobbing, wailing in sorrow and regret as we sing that song so we must think we do. But do we really do it?

No I don't think so. I know my all's not on the altar. I hold back. I bet if you search your own heart you'll admit you don't either. I don't give my all. I don't sell all but the essentials to help the poor in Jesus' name. I don't witness to people every chance I get even when I get a strong tug at my heart to do so at times. I am ashamed to admit it but ... I am guilty of saying, "Not now Jesus maybe later." .I am guilty of saying "I do my share. Let someone else do it." I am guilty of saying "I can't Lord."

One man who gave his all was Jesus. He gave all right down to his life's blood. We don't have to make that kind of sacrifice because he made it for us but still we can give our all like great men of faith did - men like Peter, Paul, James, and John. These men traveled from town to town counting on the kindness of strangers for food and shelter in order to spread the good news of Jesus. They were cast out of society and cast into prisons but still they kept giving their all to Jesus. Tradition says these men eventually each gave their lives. So many others have been martyred for Christ.

They really understood Jesus' promise of Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." I think we understand it we just don't apply it fully perhaps.

They apply it knowing we are all only here a short while. Blink and we are gone so they chose eternal things.

In Revelation 22:12, Jesus declares, "Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Whether his return is tomorrow, next year, or four hundred years from now, we are each one day closer to his return and to the end of our worldly life. Do we give it all for greater eternal things or do we whittle away wastefully at our time. Each of us started today with 1440 minutes. We have each spent over 1100 so far today. Did we spend them for worldly things or eternal things? How will you spend tomorrow's minutes?

Colossians 4:5,6

5. Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
6. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Redeeming the time being always with grace to answer every man. Are you redeeming your time always with grace, always with God's glory in mind, always ready to serve God and witness to others?

IHFHBOH

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http://www.cfdevotionals.org

All verses are from the King James Version unless otherwise specified.

2018-04-13