Mark Devotionals
[Please read and meditate on the passage before (or after) reading the devotion.]
I love the fourth verse of the Christmas carol “In the Bleak Midwinter”: What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part; yet what I can, I give him: give my heart. The attitude is reflective of the widow’s – she gave with her whole heart. Jesus showed the disciples what really pleased the heart of God – it wasn’t the “bigness” of the gifts that are given to him. And usually they were either the surplus of one’s possessions, or a very small percentage of it – what one could “spare”. What Jesus saw was the actual “smallness” (in God’s eyes) of those huge amounts of money the rich gave; and the “bigness” of that widow’s almost negligible amount – because it just wasn’t her giving everything she had, she had given all of herself. I wonder, how will you give to God?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you remind me again and again that you did not keep back any of yourself; when you gave, you gave yourself completely, without holding back. How could you be sure that I was/am a “worthy investment”? But that didn’t matter to you, did it Lord? You gave yourself because you loved me, whether or not I would love you in return. Forgive me for my distracted, half-hearted worship. Lord, I give you my heart, soul, mind… everything, especially during difficult time. Amen.
