The last few months, I haven't just read the passages for my devotions, I listen while reading, and often I find it helps me to absorb a bit more of the content.
A couple of days ago, the passage in Mark 12: 42-44 that speaks of the widow's offering. Here is the passage:
"Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on." (NLT)
"She has given everything she had to live on"... that line hit me. In the NKJV it says, "But she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood." Then the MSG says, "She gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford- she gave her all."
She gave her all...
I know that living for the Lord means that there will be changes. There will be things to let go of, there are things to lay down, and changes will come. Right?!
2 Corinthians 5: 17 "Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he has become an entirely new person. All that is related to the old order has vanished. Behold, everything is fresh and new." (TPT) That line in the NIV says, "The old has gone, the new is here!"
But while the old is gone and the new is here, some changes are more gradual. The gradual changes can be slow enough that I don't fully realize all that is different. In the daily walk, and relationship with the Lord, I realize that some things are not as important as they once were, and it is worth letting go - or giving up- some things as I grow closer.
The widow gave everything... her all. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says this, "You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully"." (NLT)
It was the widow's decision to give it all.
In my life there have been times when I know there was something I needed to change. An action that I either needed to do, or stop doing; or something I needed to give up. Honestly, I am not always happy with change, sometimes. Some change is a bit easier than other change is to handle. Walking through the changes that He is leading me to are all for my good. I know this, because He is good.
Reading the first passage, makes me think of the hymn "I Surrender All".
"All to Jesus, I surrender, all to Him I freely give, I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live. I surrender all! I surrender all! All to Thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all!" written by Judson W. Van DeVinter (https://hymnary.org/text/all_to_jesus_i_surrender)
In thinking about the commentary about the widow, I have searched my heart, asking if I am holding back on something that I know I need to do, or to change...
Have I surrendered all, like the widow, have I given everything?
When I think of the changes, the sacrifice is sometimes felt very deeply. It is akin to putting part of me on the altar. Yes, like the altars spoken of in the Old Testament stories... stones, wood, flesh/meat, and fire...
Now for the "humor" of it... I was looking at some reels earlier this week, and came across a video of babies dancing to a song, and a line of the song caught my attention. Who doesn't love to watch babies dance, right? I know I do, it just brings a huge smile to my face. But when I heard the line in this song, it brought the story of the widow to my mind, and then I saw a bonfire, and more logs being thrown on it...
What song was in the video, you ask?? I am so glad you did! =)
Iko Iko - by Justin Wellington. The part that caught my attention says this, "My bestie, and your bestie, sit down by di fire. My bestie say she wan' party, so can we make these flames go higher."
When I heard that line I almost laughed as I saw the story of the widow giving it all, Abraham being willing to sacrifice Isaac, and then Elijah on Mt. Caramel. We have the picture there of the false prophets doing all they can do to get the attention of their god; all to no avail. When it was Elijah's turn, he built the altar, and then drenched the altar, wood, and sacrifice with water. Elijah prayed, and the Lord answered with fire that ate up all the sacrifice, the altar, and licked up all the water in the trench around the altar!
What a picture!!
As I surrender to the Lord, as I lay it on the altar, my God is a consuming fire!! He burns away what is no longer needed.
Father,
As I walk through this life, and am growing in my walk with you, closer to you, help me to lay down and surrender all that is not good, or that is not needed in my life. Help me to remember what changes I am encouraged to make are for my good. Help me as I let it go to leave it on the altar, to be fully surrendered to you. Thank you for stirring up the fire, and burning away the dross in my heart and life. Thank you for helping me along each day to walk more closely to you. Help me to give everything, and to spend it all in my life with you!
Thank you!
I am reminded again that it is all a matter of the inner person of the heart and that surrender to our Lord is not a one time event. Thanks for sharing.
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