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Glory Seed Devotionals, 2015: Year of Promise
Giving LOVE… Out of poverty… Out of abundance…
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 12:42-44 ESV)
There are things in life that are worth more than money. Chief among them is LOVE. Soon it will be Christmas which can be called “the giving season” people on both sides of the cash register will see dollar signs and the gifts money has purchased will be given. I believe Jesus hit-the-nail-on-the-head with the true meaning of Christmas when he contrasted those giving out of their abundance and the widow giving out of her poverty. However, at the same time we need to interject a word of caution because we cannot know what’s in the heart of the giver.
I know volumes have been written, spoken, and illustrated about love and LOVE in an attempt to define them however the “benchmark” upon which they are defined lies deep within the heart. When Jesus made the contrast between the widow and the others he was doing so out of his insight and ability to “read” the human heart as he did so many times, however the same cannot be said of us. Only you, God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus knows what lies in your heart, only you God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus knows the depth of your LOVE.
I believe LOVE is circular where LOVE begets LOVE, the Apostle John identified the point on the circle where it all begins, “We LOVE because he first LOVED us.” (1 John 4:19, ESV, emphasis mine) And Jesus completes the circle by saying, “If anyone LOVES me, he will keep my word, and my Father will LOVE him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14:23, ESV, emphasis mine) As Christians we know it is always open season on giving because to God there is only one season “His Giving Season” We are living witnesses of the depth of God’s LOVE and out of His LOVE we can give LOVE not out of poverty or abundance but out of LOVE.
BE strong in the LORD!
Grace and PEACE, Amen!
Gary
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“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)
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Scripture quotations marked ESV "Are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved."