She is mentioned in one of the world's best selling books. Her example of giving has been taught to others for generations. Yet, her name is never given. She is only identified as, a poor widow. (Mark 12:41-44, NKJV)
Jesus sat opposite the treasury and watched the people as they put money in. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and put in two mites. Out of her poverty she put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.
What is missing in the above text? What are her thoughts? Can we know what she was thinking by her mere actions? Let's take a look.
If Jesus saw what they put in the treasury, do you think others did the same? As humans we have the possibility of having an ego. Sometimes, we may do good to please that ego instead of pleasing God. It is a temptation the Devil knows all about. He was banished from heaven because of it, or a form of it. Jesus gives us instructions of how to avoid being egotistical in Matthew 6:1-4. Yes. I have to watch out for this.
This widow was in line with the rich. What could have been her thoughts, seeing others putting in much? Sorry to say, my ego would have been screaming at me to get at the end of the line or wait until everyone else had given and gone home. ( Yes, this is a fault I am working on and I admit, it is hard sometimes to allow myself to be vulnerable as this widow.)
What does this widow show us, without words, by her actions? She shows:
Humility-She is not afraid of being seen as an impoverished widow among those giving more than she could.
Trust-She displayed her dependence on God for her future sustenance. (I wonder if she had heard Christ speak these words in Matthew 6:24-34)
Courage-Would any of those standing in line had the courage to give all they had as she did? (Christ gives us an example of one that couldn't in Luke 18:18-23)
Gratitude-I do not know, as a widow, where she got the two mites to give. I do believe she was grateful she had them to give. (She didn't bury it. She used it to show how thankful she was to have something to give. Do you remember the one talent man in Matthew 25:24-30. He buried his.)
Love for God-The example Christ gives us is she gave all that she had and in this was loving her God with all of her heart, with all her soul, and with all her strength. (Deut. 6: 5-6) Her perfect love cast out all of her fears.
It doesn't matter if you are rich or poor, God is going to look at what is in your heart and not at your possessions or lack of, and we can be grateful for this. We are to display the above characteristics no matter what our place in life is.
These are just my thoughts and opinions on this passage. You may have different thoughts or better than the above. What is amazing to me is Christ noticed what she did and gave us, and those after us, something to think about on the lines of giving to God and trusting in His love and provisions for us.
I wonder if she ever knew Christ used her giving that day as an example for all?
Thank you so much for reading.
Rick Hepler
rhepler52@gmail.com
www.rick-hepler.blogspot.com
https://amzn.to/2M72tZL
Wednesday, August 8, 2018
Thursday, August 2, 2018
This Greatest Angel Quote Gives Us Hope
"Wow! This must be a God thing". I have heard this quoted many times, but last night I think it may have been a "God thing". I had just gotten home from our Wednesday night church service, in which our guest speaker spoke on John 4:1-42, "The Samaritan Woman at The Well".
You and I have probably read this story over and over. We tend to think it happened long ago and sometimes we dismiss it from our thoughts, assuming the story is irrelevant to us today. At least I have done so in the past. You know the story, a woman has had five husbands and is living with a man not her husband. Her life is void from righteous living and she is the talk of the town. She is laden with internal guilt and shame. A woman needing hope, but hasn't found the way to even find a small amount.
She is much like the woman caught in the act of of adultery in John 8:4. Not only was she guilty, she was now fearing, by the law of Moses, stoning to death. Also, she is like the sinful woman washing the feet of Jesus with her tears and wiping them with her hair. Read about her story in Luke 7:36-50.
All three women above were given no hope by the religious world around them. Guilt, shame, along with the words and stares of others, reminded them daily of their position in life.
This doesn't happen in our Christian communities today. Does it?
Back to last night. I had just gotten home, fixed me a sandwich, and was watching the Cardinal's baseball game. I heard someone talking outside. I looked out and it was coming from a lady with her dog. She was sitting on our porch. I opened the door and walked outside. I startled her. Quickly, I asked her if she was alright. I didn't want her to think I was angry with her for resting on our porch. Two weeks ago, a homeless man rested on the same bench.
I live in the building that used to be my office. People think it is a business and it is okay to rest on my bench. She quickly apologized. She thought it was a business. I assured her it was fine to take a rest here. Then she opened up with her story.
She began to tell me the short version of her story. "The man I let live with me now was released from prison a few weeks ago. He is schizophrenic and threatened to hurt me this morning. I left the house and told him if he was still there when I got back, I was going to call the police. I came to this town a few years ago from Florida, because the man I was married to was abusive and threatened to kill me."
I asked her about her family. She said, "My mother is in the nursing home, my dad is dead, and my only living daughter is in Florida. My other daughter was murdered by her boyfriend a few years ago. I am tired. Very tired."
I believed her, because you can't make stuff up that quickly and she wasn't asking for money, only a place to rest for just a few minutes.
I could tell she was tired. She had on a midriff blouse. I guess that is what you call it. Her belly was showing. She said, her life had been one of pain and suffering. I could see a scar on her stomach. She told me it was from a liver transplant. I don't know. But what I do know, she was scarred, tattooed, and her soul wounded.
She didn't ask me, but I prepared her some food, something to drink, and carried her home. Before I dropped her off in her neighborhood, I had to asked her if she attended church. She said, "I used to". She said she was a Christian, but she didn't go now. I encouraged her to start reading her Bible again, praying, and start attending church again.
Today is no different than when Christ walked this earth. He told disciples after His meeting the Samaritan woman at the well, Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! John 4:35 Christians, they still are.
How can we make it in this sin infested world? Who can save us from Satan's cunning deceptions? All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) With a few wrong choices, anyone of us could be in the same positions spiritually as the women I mentioned above.
We all need hope, love, mercy, and forgiveness. One of the greatest quotes, from an angel, I have read in the Bible is this: Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord". Luke 2:10-11
Look at our world today. Do you and I live like we need a savior? The situation of the woman sitting on my bench, reminded me we all still do need a Savior. The highest gift God ever gave any of us, is a Savior.
Back to my original statement. Was this a God thing? I have been occupied with several of life's struggles lately. You know the kind I am talking about. Those that push you into your own little "pity party". The above turned me from self pity to gratitude, much gratitude, very quickly. The field's in our neighborhoods are really "white unto harvest". I pray for the means, the courage, and the wisdom to go to those fields and harvest what I can. What about you? Is it a God thing this poor lady was sitting on my porch last night? I believe it was. This reminded me I needed to care about her as Jesus does.
Thank you so much for reading today's blog post. Many of you read my posts. I try to teach and encourage with the words I write, but the best way I can teach and encourage all of you is by living what I write. I am accountable to God and you for doing just that. I am so grateful I have a Savior.
Please send comments to: rhepler52@gmail.com and please share with others.
Always remember we have hope because we have a Savior.
God's word provides solutions to our problems. We just need to trust Him.
You may go to:http://amzn.to/1Mi2AXW to read about His solutions for slaying those giants that taunt us.
Thank you!
Rick Hepler
You and I have probably read this story over and over. We tend to think it happened long ago and sometimes we dismiss it from our thoughts, assuming the story is irrelevant to us today. At least I have done so in the past. You know the story, a woman has had five husbands and is living with a man not her husband. Her life is void from righteous living and she is the talk of the town. She is laden with internal guilt and shame. A woman needing hope, but hasn't found the way to even find a small amount.
She is much like the woman caught in the act of of adultery in John 8:4. Not only was she guilty, she was now fearing, by the law of Moses, stoning to death. Also, she is like the sinful woman washing the feet of Jesus with her tears and wiping them with her hair. Read about her story in Luke 7:36-50.
All three women above were given no hope by the religious world around them. Guilt, shame, along with the words and stares of others, reminded them daily of their position in life.
This doesn't happen in our Christian communities today. Does it?
Back to last night. I had just gotten home, fixed me a sandwich, and was watching the Cardinal's baseball game. I heard someone talking outside. I looked out and it was coming from a lady with her dog. She was sitting on our porch. I opened the door and walked outside. I startled her. Quickly, I asked her if she was alright. I didn't want her to think I was angry with her for resting on our porch. Two weeks ago, a homeless man rested on the same bench.
I live in the building that used to be my office. People think it is a business and it is okay to rest on my bench. She quickly apologized. She thought it was a business. I assured her it was fine to take a rest here. Then she opened up with her story.
She began to tell me the short version of her story. "The man I let live with me now was released from prison a few weeks ago. He is schizophrenic and threatened to hurt me this morning. I left the house and told him if he was still there when I got back, I was going to call the police. I came to this town a few years ago from Florida, because the man I was married to was abusive and threatened to kill me."
I asked her about her family. She said, "My mother is in the nursing home, my dad is dead, and my only living daughter is in Florida. My other daughter was murdered by her boyfriend a few years ago. I am tired. Very tired."
I believed her, because you can't make stuff up that quickly and she wasn't asking for money, only a place to rest for just a few minutes.
I could tell she was tired. She had on a midriff blouse. I guess that is what you call it. Her belly was showing. She said, her life had been one of pain and suffering. I could see a scar on her stomach. She told me it was from a liver transplant. I don't know. But what I do know, she was scarred, tattooed, and her soul wounded.
She didn't ask me, but I prepared her some food, something to drink, and carried her home. Before I dropped her off in her neighborhood, I had to asked her if she attended church. She said, "I used to". She said she was a Christian, but she didn't go now. I encouraged her to start reading her Bible again, praying, and start attending church again.
Today is no different than when Christ walked this earth. He told disciples after His meeting the Samaritan woman at the well, Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! John 4:35 Christians, they still are.
How can we make it in this sin infested world? Who can save us from Satan's cunning deceptions? All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) With a few wrong choices, anyone of us could be in the same positions spiritually as the women I mentioned above.
We all need hope, love, mercy, and forgiveness. One of the greatest quotes, from an angel, I have read in the Bible is this: Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord". Luke 2:10-11
Look at our world today. Do you and I live like we need a savior? The situation of the woman sitting on my bench, reminded me we all still do need a Savior. The highest gift God ever gave any of us, is a Savior.
Back to my original statement. Was this a God thing? I have been occupied with several of life's struggles lately. You know the kind I am talking about. Those that push you into your own little "pity party". The above turned me from self pity to gratitude, much gratitude, very quickly. The field's in our neighborhoods are really "white unto harvest". I pray for the means, the courage, and the wisdom to go to those fields and harvest what I can. What about you? Is it a God thing this poor lady was sitting on my porch last night? I believe it was. This reminded me I needed to care about her as Jesus does.
Thank you so much for reading today's blog post. Many of you read my posts. I try to teach and encourage with the words I write, but the best way I can teach and encourage all of you is by living what I write. I am accountable to God and you for doing just that. I am so grateful I have a Savior.
Please send comments to: rhepler52@gmail.com and please share with others.
Always remember we have hope because we have a Savior.
God's word provides solutions to our problems. We just need to trust Him.
You may go to:http://amzn.to/1Mi2AXW to read about His solutions for slaying those giants that taunt us.
Thank you!
Rick Hepler
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