March 16 | Mark 12:41-44

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DAILY READING

Mark 12:41-44

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REFLECTION

Unlimited Resources

by Mary Alice McGinnis

Do you find yourself feeling like you don’t have enough time? Do you ever worry that you won’t have enough money?

We often live with a fear of scarcity. We are afraid we won’t have enough time to get all the things accomplished that we find important. And how will we ever hope to have enough money to support ourselves, provide for others we care about, and still save for the future? After all, our time and our money are limited resources. They are like a fleeting vapor that is here one minute and gone the next.

The widow in today’s story had experienced the fleeting nature of time and money. Her time with her husband had been cut short. With no way to support herself, her money was vanishing too.

So why do you think she put her last two coins in the offering?

Jim Elliot, a missionary to Ecuador in the 1950s, said, “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.” On January 8, 1956, Jim Elliot was killed by the very people he was trying to evangelize.

God shows us what He truly values. Romans 8:32 says, “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?”

Hold your hands out in front of you with your palms up in the shape of a cup.

Remember the promise of Ephesians 3:30, “Now to Him is able to do immeasurably more that all we ask or imagine. . .”  He has, is and will continue to graciously give us everything we need, and abundantly more than we can possibly imagine. His resources are infinite and eternal. Visualize the abundance of His love for you, filling up your cupped hands and spilling over, and over and over!

Now, clench your hands into a tight fist.

What are you trying to cling to?

What is in your hand that you are unwilling to let go of?

Where are you feeling the fear of scarcity gripping you?

Now slowly open your hands.

Release to Him all those fears, all the need for control, for all the ways you are depending on yourself.

Surrender it all into His gracious hand. Meditate on 1 John 4:18b-19, “The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because He first loved us.”

How is Jesus speaking to your heart today? Perhaps like the widow, we can realize our true poverty, and willingly give ALL to our trustworthy God, who was willing to give His all for us.

PRAYER

Bring your open heart to Jesus right now using the lyrics of this song,

"Jesus Paid it All", by Shane and Shane

March 15 | Mark 12:38-40

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DAILY READING

Mark 12:38-40

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REFLECTION

The Teachers of the Law Compared to the Teachers of Today

by David Thompson

I come from a long line of religious leaders (missionaries, pastors and TV personalities). Today I am going to focus on TV personalities as my uncle, David Mainse, was a famous one that did television across Canada from the 1960s until his death in 2017. His show, "100 Huntley Street," can still be seen daily on satellite TV.

Now what does my namesake have to do with the "teachers of the law" in Mark chapter 12? It is their influence. They were renowned across their entire country and what they said was taken seriously. So why didn't Jesus think much of them? Before I speak to that, I want to take you back to the 1980s. There were two U.S. religious shows that captivated large nationwide audiences. They were Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart. There were others, but let's look at these two primarily. Jim and Tammy Bakker were a phenomenon. They influenced hundreds of thousands with their ministry. Jimmy Swaggart, brother of Jerry Lee Lewis, also had a mega-following. They were bigger than life. Just like the teachers of the law from today's passage. The Bakkers let fame and money ruin their ministries, and they disappointed and even crushed people's faith. Likewise Jimmy Swaggart preached morality and let his guard down and was caught in an immoral situation.

Let's look at today's passage. Jesus states that "They (teachers of the law) like to walk around in flowing robes so as to be greeted with respect in the marketplace." They were using their positions for prideful gain. The Life Application Bible points out something that many felt these 1980s preachers were guilty of and unfortunately some of today's TV ministers are no different. They exploited people. They preached one thing and then did another. They preyed on the widows and poor people to give their last bit of money, just like the teachers of the law.

"Give just $10 a month and more if you can afford it." The TV ministers of our age tell those that listen, that God wants to have them give $1,000 "seed" money to their ministry. They even tell them that if they don't have any money to give, give a pledge anyway. Surely then God will return it back to you ten fold. Now I believe God blesses us for our giving. However, we surely don't give only with the motive of getting it back ten times over. Surely, if you give a $1,000, you shouldn't expect $10,000 back. The Bible says that "God loves a cheerful giver." Not a manipulated one who might not be able to pay their monthly bills. We can't paint God into a box, nor can we demand a certain return on our monetary giving. And if that monetary giving takes away from supporting our local church, consider not giving it. Thinking back to the Together campaign, I don't remember Pastor Steve ever saying that we would get ten times your pledge back.

I had lengthy discussions with my uncle on these issues. As a matter of fact, my uncle hosted the PTL Club for a week near the end of Jim and Tammy's ministry. Billy Graham spoke to my uncle about the evil that this ministry was doing to Christ's work. He asked my uncle to take a message to Jim with just this sentiment. You can not justify conning people out of their money for your own reputation and financial gain. If you watch some of today's prominent men and women, ask yourselves whether their lifestyles reflect God and His standards or whether they are more like the religious leaders of the past. Certainly prayerfully give to ministries that are above board. That is your right. But "Watch out for the Teachers of the law" as discussed above.

PRAYER

Dear God, help us discern the motives of those that we watch to see how their lives reflect you and your Son. We are told not to judge, but we can certainly do due diligence before we send our hard earned cash to one of these online or on-the-TV ministries. Pray for God to help you discern without being judgmental. In all we do, let us examine ourselves to see if our motives pass the "sniff" test and that they are not done to puff ourselves up or take advantage of others. In all we do, help us reflect a positive image; one that might bring others closer to You.

March 14 | Mark 12:35-37

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DAILY READING

Mark 12:35-37

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REFLECTION

Listen With Delight

by Judy Webb

While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, 'Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David?' David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared:

"The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet."

David, himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?

"The large crowd listened to him with delight." (Mark 12:35-37)

Jesus is coming close to revealing his identity when he quotes from Psalm 110:1. “The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”

Jesus poses the question to the large crowd gathered that day. “David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?” We understand this verse because as Christians we know Jesus was man and God, human and Divine. But those in the audience did not, yet they “listened with delight.” This is an interesting line, and the one that seems to jump off the page at me. What do you think? Often, I don’t understand scriptures either, but I listen. I know who God is and I know how my story relates to His. And He will make it clear in due time.

The Pharisees and scribes were listening, always lurking in the crowds which gather around Jesus, scooping up evidence to charge Him with crimes. They desperately needed to get rid of this man. He was spoiling everything for them.

I think sometimes we feel like the religious leaders of that day felt. If we accept Jesus into our hearts, we must change. Our lifestyle, our friends, everything we once held dear, unwittingly held up to the light, and found lacking. We may have to examine our ways. While this is so true, it is more than worth it.

Changed hearts = changed lives OR changed hearts change lives

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father,

When we turn to you and accept your Word, things change. Keep us focused on the good this change means for each of us and don't allow us to dwell on the loss... only the gain.