Explores the widow's offering in Mark 12:41-44, emphasizing the importance of faith, works, and healing in our relationship with God.
Good morning, beloved family of God.
We are gathered here today, not just as individuals, but as a collective body of Christ, unified in our shared faith and love for our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are here to learn, to grow, and to be inspired by the Word of God. We are here to draw strength from each other, to encourage each other, and to experience the joy of fellowship.
Today, we are going to look at a well-known passage from the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 12, verses 41-44. It's the story of the widow's offering, a story of faith, works, and healing.
Let's read the Scripture together:
‘Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”’
The story of the widow's offering is a powerful illustration of what it means to have fervent faith.
This woman, despite her poverty, gave all she had to the treasury. She didn't give out of her surplus, but out of her need. This is a profound act of faith. She trusted God to provide for her, even when it seemed like she had nothing left to give.
Not about the size of our offering: Instead, it’s about the heart behind it. It's not about how much we give, but how much we trust. The widow trusted God with everything she had. She believed in His ability to provide for her, even in her poverty. She didn't let her circumstances dictate her faith. Instead, she let her faith dictate her circumstances.
A lesson for us: Often, we let our circumstances dictate our faith. We trust God when things are going well, but when things get tough, we start to doubt. We start to question whether God is really there, whether He really cares. But the widow's faith was not dependent on her circumstances. It was dependent on her trust in God.
This kind of faith is not easy: It requires us to let go of our control, to surrender our plans and our desires to God. It requires us to trust in His plan, even when it doesn't make sense. But this is the kind of faith that God honors. This is the kind of faith that moves mountains.
The widow's faith was about obedience: She obeyed God's command to give, even when it was hard. She didn't let her poverty stop her from obeying God. She didn't make excuses or try to justify her lack of giving. Instead, she obeyed God, trusting that He would provide for her. Obedience is a key aspect of fervent faith. It's not enough to just believe in God. We also need to obey His commands. We need to follow His teachings, even when it's hard. We need to trust that His way is the best way, even when it doesn't make sense.
The widow's faith was about sacrifice: She gave all she had, even though it was only two small coins. She didn't give out of her surplus, but out of her need. She sacrificed her own comfort and security to give to God. Sacrifice is a key aspect of fervent faith. It's not about giving God our leftovers, but about giving Him our best. It's about putting God first, even when it's hard. It's about trusting that God will provide for us, even when we give up what we think we need.
The widow's faith was about humility: She didn't give to be seen or praised by others. She gave quietly, without drawing attention to herself. She didn't seek the approval of others, but the approval of God. Humility is a key aspect of fervent faith. It's not about seeking the praise of others, but about seeking the praise of God. It's about recognizing that we are not the center of the universe, but that God is. It's about acknowledging our need for God, and our dependence on Him.
As we continue to reflect on the narrative of the widow's offering, we are drawn to the actions of this humble woman ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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