Love
God. Love your neighbour. Love for God comes first - but it never
stands alone. It's never just "Love God" - and leave it at that. It's
always "Love God" - and "Love your neighbour."
"The large crowd enjoyed listening to Jesus. As He taught, He said, “Watch out for the experts in Moses’ Teachings! They like to walk around in long robes, to be greeted in the marketplaces, and to have the front seats in synagogues and the places of honor at dinners. They rob widows by taking their houses and then say long prayers to make themselves look good. The experts in Moses’ Teachings will receive the most severe punishment. As Jesus sat facing the temple offering box, He watched how much money people put into it. Many rich people put in large amounts. A poor widow dropped in two small coins, worth less than a penny. He called His disciples and said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: This poor widow has given more than all the others. All of them have given what they could spare. But she, in her poverty, has given everything she had to live on” (Mark 12:37-44).
What's going on in your heart? This is what Jesus is saying to us here. Who are you trying to impress? Other people are watching - and God is watching! Are we so busy looking around us to see who's watching - that we forget about God. "They rob widows by taking their houses and then say long prayers to make themselves look good" - What does God think about this? To ask the question is to give the answer! This is hypocrisy! It has nothing to do with opening our hearts to the Lord and giving our lives to Him. It's all about power and prestige. There's no love for ordinary people. The power of God is conspicuous by its absence. "A poor widow dropped in two small coins, worth less than a penny" - This doesn't sound too impressive. Jesus disagrees! He says, "This poor widow has given more than all the others." What about us? Are we learning to see things Jesus' way?
"The large crowd enjoyed listening to Jesus. As He taught, He said, “Watch out for the experts in Moses’ Teachings! They like to walk around in long robes, to be greeted in the marketplaces, and to have the front seats in synagogues and the places of honor at dinners. They rob widows by taking their houses and then say long prayers to make themselves look good. The experts in Moses’ Teachings will receive the most severe punishment. As Jesus sat facing the temple offering box, He watched how much money people put into it. Many rich people put in large amounts. A poor widow dropped in two small coins, worth less than a penny. He called His disciples and said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: This poor widow has given more than all the others. All of them have given what they could spare. But she, in her poverty, has given everything she had to live on” (Mark 12:37-44).
What's going on in your heart? This is what Jesus is saying to us here. Who are you trying to impress? Other people are watching - and God is watching! Are we so busy looking around us to see who's watching - that we forget about God. "They rob widows by taking their houses and then say long prayers to make themselves look good" - What does God think about this? To ask the question is to give the answer! This is hypocrisy! It has nothing to do with opening our hearts to the Lord and giving our lives to Him. It's all about power and prestige. There's no love for ordinary people. The power of God is conspicuous by its absence. "A poor widow dropped in two small coins, worth less than a penny" - This doesn't sound too impressive. Jesus disagrees! He says, "This poor widow has given more than all the others." What about us? Are we learning to see things Jesus' way?
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