Mark 12:41-43 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
I heard this Sunday during the sermon and the pastor did not even come close to preaching on these scripture. This goes back to something I said last week about hearing a word and how the Spirit can make it real, relevant and timely.
I’ve heard this passage taught many times. Most of the time it is about giving tithes. Callous wealth does value the tithe, it has abundance and does not feel the loss. Poverty breeds desperation. She gave her life. She withheld nothing. I am sure there are more ways to look into this message and see something, some glimpse into the lives of these people and us.
But Sunday I was struck by one word that put me in mind of this poor widow and I had not heard it taught. Neither do I lay claim to truth. It is just a word and a word revealed is important unto itself. That word was devotion.
One of the definitions which is not tied directly to religious activities is the state of being ardently dedicated and loyal. The one thing missing in this woman’s testimony could not be seen in the telling per Mark 12 was her history. Jesus could look into her heart and know all that she was in life. We judge moments. We see a things in slices as if that moment tells the whole story.
Could it be that this woman changed not in her devotion to God even if her condition changed? She probably had better times. She had lived long enough to be called a widow. Could it be that Jesus looked deep into her life and saw a woman who was devote all her life and did not allow her circumstances to change her devotion?
Can I say the same?
Thank you for this wonderful meditation. You touched me with the Word “devotion” and it’s meaning “being ardently dedicated and loyal”.
I love animals and so animal stories make impressions on me. I was reminded of a gospel tract story about a man who had a dog he didn’t want any more. He put his dog in a row boat and took it out into the lake to drown it. He threw the dog overboard, but it wouldn’t go down. He tried other things, but they didn’t work. In desperation he stood up in the boat and beat the dog, however as he was beating the poor animal, he fell overboard himself. He couldn’t swim and began yelling for help. The dog, badly beaten, swam around, grabbed her master by his jacket and, pulled him to shore. Thankfully this touched the man’s heart, and they became inseparable. Devotion motivated by unconditional love displayed by that dog, touches my heart and reminds me of the Lord Jesus, Who had brought nothing but good to His creation, when He was hanging on Calvary’s cross, cast out by those same people, could say ” Father forgive them”!! What a Saviour!!!!
There seems to be a connection between devotion and faithfulness. Christ, He who is faithful. Talk about giving every ounce of devotion, Calvary was it.
Right on target, brother.