“As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ‘I tell you the truth’, he said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'” Luke 21:1-4
Why do you think Jesus was teaching about giving these last days? This passage speaks to us today as much as it did in Jesus’ day. He was concerned about their heart attitude towards God and sacrificial giving. Jesus knew the testing that was to come for his disciples and future believers. He wanted them and us to look at a person’s heart and motives rather than the outward show of their actions. It is not the amount that one gives monetarily or the amount of time spent in service but the quality of that gift. Is it sacrificial? Does it represent all that person can give? We are not Jesus and can not know for certain what motivates a person’s giving. This parable is a warning to us not to judge what we do not know. We need to walk with grace in our hearts and leave the judging to God. These verses from Ephesians describe the grace we have and the grace we need to give. Ephesians 2:6-9 “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been save, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that on one can boast.”
Look for ways to express God’s grace today and be blessed by Jesus,
Linda
Below are the steps that led into Jerusalem during Jesus’ day by which they could enter or leave the city. He walked these steps and talked with the crowds as they traveled to and from the city.
No comments:
Post a Comment