The [Crazy] Widow

“Sitting across from the offering box, he was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins—a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, “The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all.” Mark 12:41-44

Dont you love it when you read the word and something just jumps out at you and God challenges you to do it. And it drastically changes your life?

Well I want to preface that before you read on…

To the brave… this is what God spoke to me.

In general we read this story alot, the story of Jesus hanging out in the temple after service, as the disciples probably were just hanging around asking what the word they just listened to meant. As they stand around and the whole congregation is dropping off their tithes, he notices this poor widow coming up in line and makes it a point to point her out to his disciples. As she continues to walk forward waiting for her chance to drop off her tithes in the offering basket, he reads her. Jesus being all God-all man sees the situation she is in. She is a broke widow, her husband has passed away, and she has nothing and it seems she has no job either. But she continues to move forward in the line wanting with such a desire to drop off her tithes, two cents, everything she owned.

READ THE VERSE AGAIN!

“The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all.”

She gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford – she gave her all… Whoa… what more do I need to say.

P.S. my personal journal account below after I read this verse.

Nooo… I am screwed forever… HaHa

Embracing the Kingdom Life pt. 4

“The Pharisees, along with some religion scholars who had come from Jerusalem, gathered around him. They noticed that some of his disciples weren’t being careful with ritual washings before meals. The Pharisees—Jews in general, in fact—would never eat a meal without going through the motions of a ritual hand-washing, with an especially vigorous scrubbing if they had just come from the market (to say nothing of the scourings they’d give jugs and pots and pans).” Mark 7:1-4

So I was reading this last night, and I usually just pass by this verse but God literally stopped me dead in my tracks as my eyes were just going to the next verse. Read the verse again!

The religious people of the time, the Pharisees had a big problem that none of Jesus’ disciples would wash their hands before they ate. Now they didnt wash their hands back then fearing any germs, they did it because it was a religious exercise. So what these Pharisees did before they ate any meals was make an exaggerated washing of their hands at the temple. I am sure that this was only possible because the “washing basin” was probably in the center of the room, or a part of the room in which many saw others wash their hands. But Mark “kindly” points out to the reader that these religious Pharisees worked around pots and pans that they would sell at the market place. And I am sure that they had to wash what they sold often with the dust that surrounded the market place.

So God kindly pointed out to me what religious things am I doing to make a show or boast who I am?

What is your relationship with Jesus like?  Is it a switch you flick on and off? Or is it something you cant live without?

What is your church attitude like?

What is your work attitude like?

Are you giving excellence in everything you do because you honor God with everything you do?

Or is your whole life a religious fashion show?

What are you religiously doing for show?

What arent you doing for the glory of God?

Just a couple of my own personal questions… God’s word is too good.