Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
July 13, 2023
Luke 21:1-4
1 Looking up, Jesus saw rich people throwing their gifts into the collection box for the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow throw in two small copper coins worth a penny. 3 He said, “I assure you that this poor widow has put in more than them all. 4 All of them are giving out of their spare change. But she, from her hopeless poverty, has given everything she had to live on.”
Good Morning; God will provide for our needs!
Giving everything is hard for us to fathom when talking about our livelihood. As a young family, we most often lived paycheck to paycheck. This worked fine until those unexpected expenses occurred, like our car breaking down or having costs for school events. We would skrimp and rearrange payment dates until we were back on our “feet” before the next financial challenge appeared.
Through all this, we shared what we had with others in need. I would donate time and energy to groups serving the needy, and when I saw those whose needs were so much greater than our own, I thanked God for my blessings and gave generously to the ones who needed what I had to offer.
I’m sure many have had similar experiences, so when I consider the story of the widow giving all she had to the collection box, I marvel at her faith. What is our lesson to learn? We are to consider our own giving patterns. When groups collect things for those in need, do we give our cast-offs and last year’s items or give from the best we have? If you purchase items for these collections, do you go and find the cheapest, or do you buy things like you would want for yourself or your loved ones?
The widow teaches us to give generously, and our faith will bless us. God sees our needs, and God sees our hearts. Do we give out of obligation, duty, or guilt? Jesus sacrificed himself for our needs. He paid the price for our sins, not out of obligation, but out of love. We will be blessed when we open our hearts and share all we have. Our gifts to others are not measured by their size or value but by the love with which we give.
Comforting God, We thank you! Give, and your shall receive. God, you bless us with love, mercy, and grace. Please help us to share this fully with all. In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: No act of love, big or small, is ever insignificant.
Give Freely to All! Pastor Liz
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